Improvements in Cruets or other Receptacles for Containing Mustard Prepared for Table Use.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 15th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 14th Feb., 1890-Accepted, 15th Mar., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cruets or other Receptacles for Containing
Mustard Prepared for Table Use.
I THOMAS FORD, of Weston Road, Meir Green, Longton, in the County of Stafford,
Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
ollows
--
My invention relates to a mechanical contrivance by means of which, mustard
prepared for table use may be distributed to persons when at meals; with
greater facility; and cleanliness; than is attainable by the present ordinary
method.
The cruet; or receptacle; for containing prepared mustard consists of a cylindrical;
or other shaped vessel; haveing a loose or moveable piston fitted therein, also a
necessary bottom, spout, and top cover, the latter cover or ring to be screwed on
or otherwise for the purpose of chargeing the cruet, or receptacle, with the prepared
mustard, and is intended to be actuated by compressed air, or any mechanical
device, and to be made of suitable meterial, such as metal; glass; earthenware, or
ebonite.
In case of useing compressed air, I apply an india rubber, half globe, or dome, with a
projecting flange which is attatched to the body of cruet or receptacle by the said
screwed cover or ring, this cover or ring, being secrewed down on to the projecting
flange of india rubber globe, or dome, makes an air tight joint between the top edge
of the cruet, and the flange of the india rubber dome, the dome projects above the
cover or ring; it has a small hole through the top to admit air to the underside of
dome, also to the top of the loose piston.
It will be understood that the vessel or cruct is now charged, and the piston being a
loose and seperate part is placed in the vessel or cruet containing the mustard, the
cover or ring is then screwed on, or otherwise, made fast, it is then ready for use. The
cruet being taken in hand, and held by the thumb, and second finger, the first; finger
being placed on the top of the india rubber dome, over the small hole and pressure
being exerted causes the air underneath to be compressed; thus forceing the piston
downwards and causeing a measured or limitted quantity of mustard to be discharged
through the spout for use as required.
The finger, being removed the india rubber dome returns to its original shape, and
air again fills it ready for further use.
This operation may be continued untill the cruet is emptied.
It will be understood that the discription given applies to the use of air for actuating
the piston as discribed ; but many other arrangements, and modifications, may be
made to answer the same purpose such as a combination of rack, paul, and lever,
springs and screws.
201
1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cruets or other Receptacles for Containing
Mustard Prepared for Table Use.
I THOMAS FORD of Weston Road, Mier Green, Longton, in the county of Stafford,
Mechanical 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 :-
This invention relates to a mechanical contrivance by means of which mustard

page_text: prepared for table use (that is in a fluid state) may be distributed to persons when at
meals with greater facility and cleanliness than is attainable by the present ordinary
method.
The cruet or receptacle for containing prepared mustard consists of a cylindrical or
other shaped vessel having a loose or movable piston fitted therein also a bottom, spout,
and removable top cover, the latter cover or ring being screwed on or otherwise secured
thereto for the purpose of charging the cruet or receptacle with the prepared mustard
which is intended to be extracted by compressed air or other mechanical device; the
various parts being made of any suitable material such as metal glass, earthenware,
ebonite or the like.
When employing compressed air as the acting medium I apply an india rubber or
flexible half globe or dome with a projecting flange which is attached to the body of
cruet or receptacle by an internally threaded cover or ring screwed down on to the
projecting flange thereof so as to form an air tight joint between the top of the cruet,
and the flange of the india rubber dome.
The dome projects above the cover or ring and has a small hole through
the top to admit air between the underside of dome and the top of the loose
piston.
It will be understood that when the vessel or cruet is charged the piston (being a loose
and seperate part) is placed in the vessel or cruet, containing the mustard, the cover or
ring is screwed on, or otherwise made fast, it is then ready for use. The crnet being
taken in hand and held by the thumb and second finger the first finger being placed
on the top of the india rubber dome over the small hole and pressure being exerted
causes the air underneath to be compressed thus forcing the piston downwards and
causing a measured or limited quantity of mustard to be discharged through the spout
for use as required. The finger being removed from the hole in the india rubber
dome air is admitted and allows it to return to its original shape ready for further use.
This operation may be continued until the eruet is emptied.
It will be understood that the description given applies to the use of air for
actuating the piston as described but many other arrangements and modifications may
be made to answer the same purpose such as a combination of rack pawl and lever
springs and screws.
Referring to the accompanying sheet of drawings Fig. 1. is a sectional elevation of
one form of apparatus according to my invention in which the piston is made to
descend by compressed air. Fig. 2. is a plan or top view of same taken on line 5. 6.
of Fig. 1. Fig. 3. is a sectional elevation shewing another modification of apparatus
according to my invention in which the piston is pressed down by means of a ratchet,
pawl and lever. Fig. 4. is a plan or top view of same shewing distinctly the lever
and pawl arrangement.
Similar letters refer to like parts throughout the drawings.
A. is the body or outer casing hereafter called a cruet its upper end is screw
threaded to receive a screw cap or ring B. and is also provided with a spout C.
Inside the cruet A. a cupped or other form of air tight piston D. is inserted and
furnished with a knob or lifting handle D Fig. 1. for withdrawing same.
E is a
flexible half globe or dome made of india rubber or other flexible material of the
shape shewn in Fig. 1. its lower edge is flanged outwards to about the same size as
the diameter of the cruet A. so that the screwed cap or ring B. will make an air tight
joint when screwed down.
E is a small hole on the top of the half globe or dome E. which may be thickened
up to form a cup shaped recess for admitting air into the space between the upper
side of piston D. and flexible dome E. On each side of the cruet A. suitable
handles F. F. are formed, they may be made in various shapes to suit the design
required. It would be understood that by placing the finger on the cup shaped
hole E, and pressing the flexible dome down the piston D. will in this design be
forced downwards by the compressed air simultaneously discharging a quantity of
fluid mustard or the like through the spout C. and also when the finger is removed
from the hole E¹ air will be admitted therethrough and the flexible dome E. again

page_text: expanded to its original shape. This may be repeated as often as desired until the
piston has descended to the bottom of cruet.
In another modification according to my invention I despense with the flexible
globe or dome E. and substitute therefor a ratchet bar G. secured to the piston D. as
shown in Figs. and 4. Into the teeth formed on the ratchet bar or piston rod G.
takes a spring pawl EI. which is pivotted to a lever J. its fixed end or fulcrum being
pivotted to a suitably shaped cover or top K. and provided with a small spiral lifting
spring K
The lever J. has a slotted hole formed in or about the middle through which
the piston rod G. slides and is guided. It will be understood that by pressing
down the lever G. the piston E. will be depressed a little and drive out a portion of
the fluid in the cruet A.
The lever G. being released will spring back into its former position simultaneously
the pawl H. will have passed over and engaged in other teeth on the rod G. so that
by depressing and releasing the lever J. a number of times the piston D. will
descend until it has reached the bottom of its stroke.
For filling the empty cruet in either of the modifications shewn the screwed cap or
ring B. is removed and the piston D. taken out, the cruet is filled up to within a little
of the top and the piston again inserted and the cap screwed tightly on the body of
cruet.
I would have it understood that I may slightly modify the arrangement of my
improved cruet according to different designs in shapes without departure from the
essential features of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
--
1. In a cruet for serving fluid mustard or the like the application of a domed
shaped air tight flexible cap in combination with an outer casing and spout provided
with or without a piston for the purpose specified.
2. In a cruet for serving fluid mustard or like substances the application of a piston
pheumatically compressed by squeezing a flexible air tight cover substantially as
described and illustrated in Fig. 1.
3. In a crnet containing fluid mustard or the like the application of a piston
working in a cylinder depressed by a rack or toothed piston rod actuated, by a pawl
and lever substantially as described and illustrated in Fig. 3.
Datad thin 19th du of Wah
1000
THOMAS FORD.