AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING THE GROUNDS FROM THE LIQUID IN MAKING COFFEE
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the "International Patent
Office," No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING THE GROUNDS FROM THE LIQUID IN MAKING
COFFEE." -A communication from abroad by Henry Josiah Griswold, of
Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
Sealed the 17th September 1867, and dated the 22nd March 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
22nd March 1867.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office, No. 8,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Con-
sulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING THE GROUNDS FROM THE LIQUID IN
MAKING COFFEE," to be as follows:-
The said Invention relates to an apparatus which when placed in a coffee
pot or other vessel wherein coffee is made will separate the grounds or sėdi-
ment from the liquid, and render the latter perfectly clear without the aid of
isinglass or other' substance or compound for that purpose.
The said apparatus' consists of a perforated cup having a' funnel or taper
opening surmounted by a conical cap or cover. The base of the latter rests
on the top of the cup and is of such a diameter that a space is left between it

page_text: and the edge of the cup. When the
When the liquid circulates the coffee grounds fall
through this space into the said cup and remain therein while the cleared
liquid flows out through the perforations in the same. The cup for receiving
the coffee grounds or sediment is made of tin or other suitable metal and of
any convenient shape and size. The sides of this cup are formed of perforated
sheet metal or wire gauze of the proper gauge to retain the coffee grounds
and permit the liquid to pass freely out through the holes or apertures in
the same. The apparatus is by preference constructed in such a manner as
to stand in a coffee pot or other vessel without being attached thereto, and for
this purpose the bottom of the cup is for convenience provided with feet or
projections. This mode of construction is preferable because it allows the
apparatus to be readily removed when required for cleaning and other pur-
poses; but if desired the said apparatus may be permanently secured inside
the coffee pot. The conical cap or cover and funnel are by preference made
removable and attached to the cup by catches, which are formed to take hold
of a flange or rim on the top of the said cup. When the removable apparatus
is employed the coffee is first placed in the pot or other vessel and the water
poured on it in the usual manner; the apparatus is then placed inside the said
coffee pot or other vessel; as soon as ebulition commences a current is
created, whereby the coffee grounds are carried down the funnel into the cup
through the space between the edge of the latter and the base of the conical
The grounds fall down to the bottom of the said cup and are retained
therein, while the liquid flows perfectly clear through the perforations in the
sides of the same.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
18th September 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton
Buildings,, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
Ale said William Robert Lake, Her special licence that I, the said William

page_text: Robert Lake, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others:
as I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, administrators, and.
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and.
at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention of
"AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING THE GROUNDS FROM THE LIQUID IN.
MAKING COFFEE," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William.
Robert Lake, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent.
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do bereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings forming a part of this Specification:-
The said Invention relates to an apparatus which when placed in a coffee
pot or other vessel wherein coffee is made will separate the grounds or sedi-
ment from the liquid, and render the latter perfectly clear without the aid of
isinglass or other substance or compound for that purpose.
The said apparatus consists of a perforated cup having a funnel or taper
opening surmounted by a conical cap or cover. The base of the latter rests
on the top of the cup, and is of such a diameter that a space is left between it
and the edge of the eup. When the liquid circulates the coffee grounds fail
through this space into the said cup, and remain therein while the cleared
liquid flows out through the perforations in the same. The cup for receiving
the coffee grounds or sediment is made of tin or other suitable metal and of
any convenient shape and size. The sides of this eup are formed of perforated
sheet metal or wire gauze of the proper gauge to retain the coffee grounds
and permit the liquid to pass freely out through the holes or apertures in
the same.
The apparatus is by preference. constructed in such a manner as
to stand in a coffee pot or other vessel without being attached thereto, and for
this purpose the bottom of the cup is for convenience provided with feet or
projections. This mode of construction is preferable because it allows the
apparatus to be readily removed when required for cleaning and other pur-
poses; but if desired the said apparatus may be permanently secured inside

page_text: removable and attached to the cup by catches, which are formed to take hold,
of a flange or rim on the top of the said cup.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS..
Figure 1 is a plan of the top of my improved apparatus; Figure 2 is a
section on the line a, x, Figure 1, showing the said apparatus inside a coffee
Like letters indicate the same parts in each Figure.
pot.
The cup A is made of convenient size and form to allow it to he. readily.
introduced into the coffee pot or other vessel in which it is to be employed.
The lower circular portion A¹ is by preference soldered to the upper portion A³
and to the bottom A³, which is provided with the feet or projections B. The
upper part A of the said cup is formed with a slight flange or rim a, which.
has a recess or notch 6 formed on one side. The funnel C and cap D are by
preference soldered together or otherwise united, an annular space. E being
left between the said funnel and cap. The rim c of the funnel C is made to
rest upon the flange a of the cup A, as shown in Figure 2, and the catches or
claws c¹ on the funnel C are formed and arranged to fit over the said flange.
and hold the funnel C securely thereon. These claws are made slightly
narrower than the recess b.to allow either of them to enter the said recess,
and then be forced over the flange a. by turning the funnel. round. Other
means of fastening the said funnel to the cup A may be employed. if desired,
but these catches are found highly convenient as they allow the two parts A
and C to be readily separated for cleaning or other purposes. The. conical
cap D is preferably soldered to.a bar F which extends.across.the-centre of the.
funnel-C, and the lower end of the said cap is arranged nearly flush with the
top of the said funnel. The top.or. apex of the cap D. is provided with a loop
or eye D¹, or other means for facilitating the introduction of the apparatus
into the coffee pot and its removal from the same. When constructed as.
represented in the Drawings no part of the apparatus is attached to the coffee.
pot, and all difficulty. with regard to keeping.the same clean is. thereby pre-
vented. The coffee. is. first placed in the pot or other vessel, and the. water
poured on it in the usual manner; the apparatus is then placed inside theдsaid.
coffee pot or other vessel; as soon as ebulition commences a current is
created in the direction indicated by the arrows, Figure 2,, whereby the coffee.
grounds are carried down the..funnel C into the cup A through the space-E.
between the edge of the funnel and the base of the conical cover. D. The
grounds fall down to the bottom of the said cup and are retained therein,. while.
the liquid flows through the perforations in the part A¹ of the said, cup,

page_text: perfectly clear and ready for use. It is obvious that by a slight modification
in its construction the said apparatus may be permanently fixed within the
coffee pot.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, and shown how the same may be conveniently and
advantageously carried into effect, I claim the perforated cup A, funnel C, and
conical cap D constructed and combined, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
GEORGE HAZELTINE.
.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (LS.)