Improvements in and connected with Trays, Salvers, and the like.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Trays, Salvers, and
the like.
WILLIAM COLIN MORISON 72 Willows Road Birmingham Gentleman do
'hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is practically to enable two or more trays with
their respective contents (dishes, cups and saucers and the like) to be suitably
placed one over the other so that, with suitable handles, all may be properly
carried together and thus enable many more small dishes and the like to be readily
carried at the same time than can properly be done with only one tray; a large
(wide spreading) tray even lightly loaded being inconvenient to carry.
Two or more trays may be so arranged with upright pieces, at their respective
ends, to retain them properly apart, either rigidly fixed to one, or more,
of the
trays and connected in such manner with the other, or others, that they may readily
be disconnected from the same; or they may be arranged so that they may readily
be connected with, and disconnected from, all the trays, in one, or more of the
many well known ways the like may be done by means of pieces fitting into recesses
and, preferably spring catches to retain them in place.
Or upright pieces may be arranged with horizontal and diagonal pieces to form
a suitable skeleton frame within, and on, which trays may be placed with a suitable
space between each two trays.
Or said pieces may be thus formed as a skeleton frame in combination with one,
or more, trays.
If preferred said frar, may be so arranged as to admit of the space, or spaces
between two, or more, rays being altered as may be desired.
If desired this invention may be formed of a rigid frame with shelves, to serve
as trays, rigidly fixed to it in such manner that suitable articles may readily and
suitably be placed upon, and removed from, said shelves. Or said shelves may be
so connected with said frame as to admit of the space between each two shelves being
readily suitably altered as may be desired.
This device, if desired, may be furnished with legs either rigidly fixed, or
arranged so that they, by means of hinges, may readily be folded, or slid upwards,
or removed and replaced at will; the object of said legs being removable is to
enable the device to be conveniently (by means of suitable handles) carried,
particularly up or down stairs.
If preferred this device, with or without legs, in lieu of being rigid may be
arranged with hinges so that various portions of it, as may be desired, may be
folded one over the other, to occupy less space, and by suitable, preferably spring,
catches properly retained as desired.
The material, or materials, of which the aforesaid invention may readily be made
may be either wood, sheet metal, wire, papier-maché either plain or with wire
embedded in it. Of course when wheels, or rollers, can be advantageously connected
with the said device they may be made use of.
The following mentioned arrangement is one of the many forms in which my
said invention may be made.
Four uprights, each provided with two or more pieces projecting horizontally,
and arranged to fit into nocket-like recesses at the four corners of each

page_text: rectangular tray and when in place retained by suitable catches and thus holding
said trays firmly as may be desired.
The lower horizontal piece on each upright may be a fixture while the other,
or others, on each upright may be made to slide and duly held at the required
part of each upright respectively by a set screw and thus enable the space, or
spaces, between each two, or more, trays to be readily arranged as may be
desired.
Improvements in and connected with Trays, Salvers, and
the like.
WILLIAM COLIN MORISON 72 Willow's Road Birmingham Gentleman 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 this invention is to enable two, or more, comparatively small light
trays of suitable form to be suitably placed in a frame provided with handles and
suitable legs so that said trays may properly be carried together, and being
suitably covered with, say, articles used at meal times such as dishes, cups and
saucers and the like, many more dishes or light articles may readily be carried at
one time than can conveniently be done by means of one tray; a large, wide
spreading tray even lightly loaded being inconvenient to carry. To prevent
articles slipping off said trays suitable material, preferably suitable wire netting,
may be suitably fixed to said frame.
The aforesaid legs are preferably arranged so that they may readily be placed
in position for use, or removed out of the way as may be desired; when carrying
the device up or down stairs long legs might be inconvenient.
Two or more suitable trays may be so arranged with upright pieces at their
respective ends, or corners, to retain them properly apart, either rigidly fixed to
one, or more, of the trays and connected in such manner with the other, or others,
that they may readily be disconnected from the same. Or they may be so arranged
that they may readily be connected with or disconnected from all the trays in such,
as may be preferred, of the many well known methods the like may be effected by
aneans, say, of pieces suitably fixed to and projecting from the trays and duly
fitting into recesses formed in the upright pieces and with, preferably spring,
catches to retain them in place.
Or the upright pieces may be arranged with horizontal and diagonal pieces to
form a suitable skeleton frame within, and ou, which all the trays may be loosely
placed with a suitable space between each two trays.
Or said upright pieces may be formed as a skeleton frame in rigid com-
bination with two or more trays, the other tray, or trays, being loosely connected
therewith.
If preferred said frame may be so arranged as to admit of the space, or spaces,
between two, or more, trays being altered as may be desired.
The said frame may be furnished with legs either rigidly fixed to the frame or
arranged so that they, by means of hinges, may readily be folded, say, parallel
with, and close to, the ends of the frame; or, by means of suitably formed guiding
pieces, slid, upwards, against the ends of the frame and there retained, out of the
way, or, downwards, and there retained, to be used; or they may readily be
arranged so that they may be placed for use, or duly removed entirely. The chief
object of said legs not being fixtures is to enable the device to be conveniently, by

page_text: means of suitable handles, or cross bars of the frame to serve as such, carried
particularly up or down stairs. If preferred the frame may be formed with short
fixed legs.
If desired the frame, with or without legs, may be arranged with hinges so
that such portions of it as may be wanted may be folded, one portion over
another, and by suitable, preferably spring, catches properly retained in place as
required.
Any competent mechanic by duly reading the foregoing description and
examining the accompanying drawings may readily understand the character of
this invention and duly perceive how any of the aforesaid arrangements may easily
be effected.
་
One of the many ways this invention may be arranged is shown by the
accompanying drawings of which
Fig. 1, 2, and 3 are respectively a side elevation, an end elevation, and a plan on
top of said device;
Fig. 4, being a section through the line A, B, of Fig. 2.
The letters of reference apply to the same parts in the different drawings.
The device is shown with three trays a, b, c; the two first being fixed, in place,
to the uprights d, e, f, g, while c is removable, being arranged so that its ends inay
slide on the horizontal pieces h, h, and is shown in Figs. 2 and 3 as partly drawn
out of, its normal position in, the frame.
The spaces respectively between c and the lower and upper trays, a, b, may
readily be altered by placing the tray c on either of the pairs of cross pieces i, i, k, k²,
or on the upper portions of 1, 1', the lower portions of which serve as ends for the
bottom tray, a; all of which cross pieces are duly fixed to said uprights.
To the back of the frame, formed by said uprights and the pieces fixed to them,
is suitably fixed the light wire netting m.
Said frame is furnished at each end with a, preferably round wooden, handle, o, p,
each of which has a round metal rod fixed centrally to it and projecting straight
outwards from each of its two ends; said rods being respectively m', m, n, n¹
duly passing through the outer and free ends of the brackets which are fixed to
and project, through spaces formed in the pieces 1, 1, outwardly, close to each end
of said handles, from the plates q, r, fixed respectively to the inner surfaces of the
pieces 1, . The free ends of said rods are similarly formed with a crank the
outer end of which is bent at right angles outwards, said last portions of each
pair of rods being in line with each other are duly pressed inwards by the outer
ends of two springs respectively coiled round one of each pair of said rods close
up to the suitable bracket, the inner end of each of said springs being duly
fixed to the suitable bracket while each pair of said rods may be turned, along
with the corresponding handle, against the resistance of the spring, in said
brackets.
Said frame is furnished at each end with a pair of straight legs s, s¹, t, t¹; the
lower ends of each pair being connected by a cross bar respectively, u; v, fixed to
them.
Each of said legs is fitted to slide through two metal guiding pieces,, duly
rigidly connected with the frame, and when the legs are down, as shown in Figs. 1
and 2 for use, they are held in place by the outer portions of the rods m³, m, n, n'
pressing respectively on the top of each leg.
Said legs when desired may readily be raised by duly turning the handles,
against the resistance of the springs, so as to free said legs then (the legs resting on
the floor) by duly lowering the frame (which is then equivalent to raising the legs)
to the desired extent and then allowing the springs to act the said outer ends of
said rods are duly pressed against the sides of the legs and thus retain them in
their raised positions.
To again place the legs in position for use, the device being meantime maintained
by means of the handles at a sufficient height, said handles are turned so as to
release the legs from the action of the springs and thus cause them to drop

page_text: sufficiently to enable the carrier (or operator) to place a foot on each of said cross
bars, u, v, and then by raising the device the legs may readily be caused to pass to
their full extent (until a plate at the top of each stops them) through said guiding
pieces to enable the outer portions of said rods to pass over to; and press upon, the
upper ends of the legs and thus retain them in position for use. A suitable portion
of each of said legs from the top downwards is made to fit said guiding pieces snugly
so that when the legs are in use they may be firm; whereas from said portion down-
wards the legs are sufficiently-thin to enable them, when free, to drop through-said
guiding pieces sufficiently for the aforesaid purpose.
I prefer to .form.the most of this invention of suitable wood but, of course, it
may all be made of any suitable material or materials.
This invention may be advantageously used in dwelling houses, factories of
various sorts, restaurants and the like to enable suitable articles to be readily
carried.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that
what I claim is :-
1st. The construction or general arrangement and combination substantially of
the invention, substantially as, and for the purpose, herein before described, and
-shown in the accompanying drawings.
.
2nd. A frame combined with two, or more, trays substantially as, and for the
purpose, hereinbefore described, and shown by the accompanying drawings.
3rd. A frame combined with handles substantially as, aud for the purpose,
herein before described, and as shown by the accompanying drawings.
4th. A frame combined with legs substantially as, and for the purpose,
herein before described, and shown in the accompanying drawings.
5th. A frame combined with wire netting, or other suitable material, sub-
stantially as, and for the purpose, herein before described, and shown in the
accompanying drawings.
Dated January 2nd 1806