An Improved Egg Holder for use both in Boiling Eggs and as a Stand.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Nov., 1898-Accepted, 21st Jan., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Egg Holder for use both in Boiling Eggs and as a Stand.
I, HENRY JAMES MARKS, of Toowoomba, in the Colony of Queensland, Australia,
Architect, 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:-
The object of my invention is to provide an article of manufacture cheap enough
for general use, to serve as a holder by which a number of eggs may be retained
in place not only whilst being boiled, but also afterwards as for example on a
breakfast table. The holder is so devised as to hold each egg firmly yet safely, to
take up a minimum of space in the pot, to be durable yet simple in construction
and also attractive to the eye, and to facilitate if desired the boiling of some of
the eggs harder than the rest, and the separation of the hard boiled from the soft
boiled in a natural way, so as to avoid confusion and mixture.
The egg holder is illustrated in the attached drawings in which Figure 1 shows
a movable upper tier of the holder in plan view; Figure 2 shows a plan of the
holder filled with eggs, the upper tier being removed; Figure 3 shows diagram-
matic plan of the arrangement of the dividing pins, handles and holes for drainage
and other purposes and Figure 4 is a perspective view of the holder, showing five
eggs on the base tier which is capable of containing seven eggs.
Like parts bear the same letters of reference in these figures.
The base tier is composed of a circular plate of metal A having three
series B CD of egg dividing pins affixed to it at regular distances apart, upon
respective concentric circles X Y and Z (Fig. 3). The smallest circle is large enough
to enclose one egg W, whilst the pins of all three circles co-operate to form spaces
(the centres of which are marked) to hold in place a ring of eggs T around the
central egg W, there being four pins bounding each egg of such ring. Figure 2
shows how very closely the eggs may be packed, but such closeness is not essential.
The heads of the pins are enlarged and rendered devoid of projecting points as
shown by E Fig. 4 so that there is no tendency to injure the eggs. The dividing
pins may be of wire either light and flexible at their heads or rigid.
are
water and
The plate A is designed to rest near the bottom of the boiler or pot when the
eggs are being boiled, and holes (oval ones being preferred) in the plate as at V
useful to allow
of
free circulation
to allow the
latter to drain off when the holder is removed from the pot.
Where the plate A fits the pot circumferentially holes of some kind are necessary.
The upper tier (there may be any number thereof) is a plate A¹ adapted to hold as
many eggs as the lower tier, there being the same circles of egg dividing pins
as in the base tier. There are however fower pins, i.e., two are absent their place
being occupied by the lengthening of two of the inner circle pins on plate A.
These lengthened pins are carried up high as shown by F G, and may be joined
or otherwise suitably arranged at the top so as to form a handle H. The plate A¹
is slitted as shown by J to enable it to pass over handle H, means being provided if
necessary to hold the plate A¹ securely when in use such as slits J¹ which engage
the pins F G. If the handle were shaped as dotted in Figure 4 there would be

page_text: no need of slits J. The slitting will of course vary according to the handle. As
the plate A¹ with its eggs may easily be removed from the pot without removing
the rest of the holder, it will be easy to provide both hard and soft boiled eggs.
One or more plates A¹ will easily go into a pot and allow the lid of the pot
to be put on; one of the said plates may be stood upon any ordinary dish upon
the breakfast table. The arrangement of the pins aforesaid is such as to protect
the eggs from breakage there being no exposed points whilst even if the egg
holder were held at a considerable angle to the vertical the eggs would not fall
out. The plate A' does not rest upon the eggs in the lower tier, but upon the
heads E of three or more of the pins C which are lengthened for that purpose for
example the pins at the points K L and M in Figure 3 and seen lengthened in
Figure 4. Of course other equivalent means to support plate A¹ might be
employed in lieu of those above specified.
It is intended to use material which will not be affected by boiling water in
carrying out this invention and the handles are preferably made collapsible in
any well known way, or removable for packing purposes. Where the extreme
of cheapness is aimed at consistent with good appearance, solder and holes at the
points S may be the medium of attachment of the egg dividing pins to the plates,
the lower ends of the pins being enlarged, rivet fashion.
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 an egg holder the combination with a base plate of three series of egg
dividing pins arranged upon concentric circles X Y and Z respectively so that
there will be one central egg space around which are other egg spaces each
bounded by four egg dividing pins, two of which are on circle Y one upon X and
one upon Z as set forth.
2. In an egg holder the combination with a base plate of three series of egg
dividing pins arranged upon concentric circles, X. Y and X respectively two of the
pins upon the inner circle having upward extensions to form or be connected
to a handle as set forth.
3. In an egg holder having a handle the combination with a base plate having
egg dividing pins, certain of which are lengthened to form a handle thereon, of a
plate to form an upper tier, and means to support the said plate said upper
plate being slitted to pass over the handle, and having egg dividing pins as in
the base plate except as to those of the pins in the base plate which are lengthened
as set forth.
4. In an egg holder the general combination and arrangement of the base
plate the egg dividing pins having enlarged heads, the egg dividing pins having
extensions upward to form the handle with or without the holes for drainage
and other purposes, all substantially as illustrated and described
Dated this 23rd day of November 1808
S. S. BROMHEAD,
Patent Agent, 171, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.