IMPROVEMENTS IN STANDS FOR PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Edward Bingham, of Sheffield, in the County of
York, Manufacturer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STANDS FOR
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Edward Bingham at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th December 1880.
JOHN EDWARD BINGHAM, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Manufacturer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STANDS FOR BOTTLES AND SIMILAR RECEPTACLES."
My Invention relates to improvements in stands for bottles and other similar
receptacles, but more particularly to spirit or liquor frames, the object being to
secure the bottles and to prevent the abstraction of their contents.
In carrying out my Invention as applied to a liquor frame, for example, I
construct a frame consisting of a base, two vertical sides, and a cross bar to connect
the two vertical sides, and intended to pass close over the tops of the stoppers of
the bottles. A frame intended for three bottles would be divided into three com-
partments by the addition of two extra vertical partitions, and I pivot or hinge
each bottle separately between such vertical sides or partitions, and I accomplish
this according to one arrangement by constructing a metallic case or cover which
may enclose and support an ordinary or original shaped wine or spirit bottle. On
opposite sides of such case or cover are suitable pivots or axles which engage with
corresponding bearings fixed on the vertical sides or partitions. When cut glass
bottles are used I attach the pivots or axles to them by means of a metallic band
or wire placed round the bottles or by other similar contrivance. In a frame of
this description the bottle required may be either tilted forward on its pivots and
the contents poured out, or it may be lifted bodily out of the frame and used in
the ordinary manner.
A simple locking or other equivalent movement is attached to secure the bottles
in the frame.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Edward Bingham in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
10th June 1881.
JOHN EDWARD BINGHAM, of Sheffield, in the County of York.
IN STANDS FOR BOTTLES AND SIMILAR RECEPTACLES.'
"
"IMPROVEMENTS
My said Invention relates to stands for bottles and other similar receptacles, and
more particularly to stands for spirit, liqueur, and scent bottles, and its primary
object is to secure the bottles or other similar receptacles in such a manner as to
prevent the contents from being abstracted.
In carrying out my Invention as applied to a spirit stand (for example) according
to one arrangement I make an outer frame of a rectangular shape consisting of a
base with two upright sides connected at their tops by a crossbar which is intended
to fit closely over the tops of stoppers of the bottles; the frame may be subdivided
by partitions, according to the number of the bottles the stand is intended to hold,
a handle being usually placed in the centre of the crossbar to carry the stand by.
The base of the stand is so constructed that between each partition a recess is
formed to receive the bottom of the bottles. Each bottle is provided with
trunnions or pivots which may be formed in the glass, but by preference are
attached to the bottles by means of a metallic band or wire, or other equivalents.
The trunnions or pivots are by preference made of the shape of a disc or ball, and
so arranged that they can be readily placed into or lifted out of suitably shaped
supports or sockets attached to the sides or to the partitions of the frame in such a
position that the bottles do not touch the base but are free to swivel on the
trunnions when the stand is opened and closed. When the bottles are in the
closed stand they are held in a vertical position with the stoppers fitting closely
under the crossbar, thus effectually preventing the contents being tampered with,
and must be tilted forward before the stoppers can be withdrawn or the bottles
lifted out of the stand; and to attain this object I attach the back moulding
to the base of the stand by hinges fixed on its lower edge, so that it can
be opened sufficiently to allow the desired movement and secured by means of a
lock. The bottles may be tilted forward by hand, but a simple automatic movement
for releasing the bottles and tilting them forward in the required position may be
carried out in the following manner :-I attach to the inside of the hinged back
moulding a light framework which shall fit loosely round or against the lower part
of the bottles, and to the front part of which the catch or recess for the lock is
secured. Suitable springs, by preference made spiral and inclosed in short tubes,
act against the back moulding, and when the stand is unlocked they force back the
moulding with the light framework and tilt the bottles forward. To resecure the
bottles it is simply necessary to press back the moulding into its original position,
carrying with it the bottles till it is caught by the spring lock which secures all the
parts firmly together. A modification of my Invention may be applied to spirit
stands, in which it is desired to use the original spirit bottles by constructing
metallic cases or covers corresponding to the shape of the said bottles, and in which
they are secured by any simple means; on the outside of the cases or covers similar
trunnions or axles are fixed to those before described, and they may be so placed
that the contents can be poured out without the bottles being lifted out of the
sockets if such method be preferred also each bottle or case may be secured
separately or the series together, and this arrangement applies to the former
description of stand.
And in order that my Invention may be more fully understood I will now refer
to the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the figures.

page_text: Figure represents a front elevation of a spirit stand, made according to my
Invention, the arrangements for releasing and tilting the bottles being automatic.
A is the base; B is the front moulding; C is the lock; D, D, are the sides; E is the
crossbar with the handle F; G, G, are partitions; H is the metallic band or wire
secured round the bottle; I, I, are the ballshaped trunnions; J, J, the sockets.
Figure 2 represents an end elevation of the same stand unlocked and showing
the bottle tilted forward; K is the back moulding hinged to the base at L; M is
the light frame encircling the bottles, but loosely, so as to allow for the circular
movement of the bottles on the trunnions.
Figure 3 is a plan of the light frame as arranged for this stand, and of other
parts connected with it; K is the back moulding; M is the frame, the front bar m
passing in front of the bottles for the purpose of tilting them, N being the part in
which the bolt of the lock C engages; 0, 0, are short tubes attached by joints to
the front moulding containing spiral springs, which exert a reactionary pressure
against the short rods P, P, thus forcing the parts open, but it is obvious
that these details may be greatly modified to accomplish the same movement or
result.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, I
wish to observe in conclusion that I do not confine myself to the precise details or
configuration of the spirit stand, as herein described and illustrated, as the same
may be varied in many of its parts without departing from the spirit of my Inven-
tion, but what I do consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the
Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,--
First. The construction of stands for spirit, liqueur, or scent bottles, or jars, or
other similar receptacles in which the said bottles or receptacles are supported
separately, and so that they may be tilted or partly rotated on the supporting
trunnions or axes, by hand or automatically, for the purpose of either lifting out
the bottles or pouring out the contents, substantially as described and illustrated or
any mere modification thereof.
Secondly. The use of metallic covers or cases for the ordinary shaped or original
spirit bottles provided with trunnions or pivots on which to tilt the bottles for the
purpose of pouring out the contents as described.
Thirdly. The construction of stands for spirit bottles or similar vessels with the
appliances for releasing and tilting the bottles automatically for the purposes before
mentioned, substantially as described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Edward Bingham, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
JOHN E. BINGHAM. (L.S.)