Apparatus for Holding and Serving Hot Plates, Dishes, and the like.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Mar., 1887
Complete Left, 5th Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 6th Jan., 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for Holding and Serving Hot Plates, Dishes,
and the like.
I, SPENCER HENRY SIMPSON of Romsey, Hants, Surgeon, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is, an apparatus for taking up, holding, and serving hot
plates, dishes, and the like at table. The apparatus is so constructed that it can be
opened and closed by hand, the blades by which the plate or dish is held, being
formed of a shape corresponding or nearly so to the rim of a plate or dish in order to
hold it firmly when the blades are closed upon it.
The handles are shaped to correspond to that of the fingers and thumb to enable an
easy, yet firm grip to be had and in advance of the joint on which the blades can be
moved are other joints for connecting said blades singly. The stock of each blade has
a kind of box from which a strip or piece extends for riding in the opposite box as
guides for producing a parallel motion of the two blades, the inner faces of which may
be lined or cushioned with a soft flexible material.
The handles may be provided with a spring for opening the blades when pressure is
removed.

page_text: Apparatus for Holding and Serving Hot Plates, Dishes,
and the like.
I, SPENCER HENRY SIMPSON, of Romsey, Hants, Surgeon, 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 an apparatus for taking up holding, and serving hot plates,
dishes and the like at table. The apparatus is so constructed that it can be opened
and closed by hand the blades by which the plate or dish is held being formed of a
shape corresponding or nearly so to the rim of a plate or dish in order to hold it
firmly when the blades are closed. The handles are shaped to conform to that of the
finger and thumb to enable an easy yet firm grip to be had and in advance of the
joint on which the blades can be moved are other joints for connecting said blades
singly. The stock of each blade has a kind of box from which a strip or piece
extends for riding in the opposite box as guides for producing a parallel motion of the
two blades, the inner faces of which may be lined or cushioned with a soft flexible
material.
The handles may be provided with a spring for opening the blades when pressure
is removed.
The above invention is shown in the annexed drawings and consists of six or more
pieces of cast or wrought steel or brass; one piece of steel spring; two pieces of
Dermatine or India Rubber.
The handles A, B Figure 1, cross over and are connected by the screw C to each
other and then separately into the boxes D, E, by two smaller screws F, F, the upper
handle A is shaped on the top to correspond with the impress of a persons thumb ;
the lower handle B is shaped on the lower side to correspond with the impress of the
1st and 2nd Fingers as usually applied to a plate in the ordinary way of holding the
same while serving at the table. These handles A B, are kept apart by the spring G
which is attached to the handles by rivets H, H, at either end.
The boxes D E grooved for the working of the two strips I, J, are in piece with
the blades K, L, respectively these forming the box and which enable the blades K, L,
to work parallel to each other. The blades K, L, are spread out into flat pieces as
seen in Figure 2, the upper blade K slightly concave on its upper side to correspond
with the upper surface of the rim as seen in Figure 3 of an ordinary dinner plate M,
and the lower blade L slightly convex on its under side. The inner surfaces of the
blades are covered with Dermatine or India Rubber N or a composition thereof
corrugated on the free surface, compression of the handles A, B, will bring the
surfaces of the India Rubber in contact with the plate M. This India Rubber etc.
is slightly thicker at the outer than the inner margin to obtain a firmer grip of the
plate.
The above description relates especially to plate holders, which can be made in

page_text: various sizes and strength but those for use as Dish-holders will require to have the
handles A, B, enlarged so that the upper handle A takes the grip of the thumb and
the ball of the thumb and the lower handle B to take the grip of the four fingers of
the hand as in the ordinary way of holding a dish. The blades K, L also must be
increased in size according to the size of the dish.
The upper surface of the upper blade will be a suitable place for a Motto
or Crest.
It is not always necessary to line the blades K, L with rubber or other body
as the faces may be notched or serrated as at Figure 4 to obtain the necessary
grip of a plate.
A modification of the blades shewn at Figure 5 consists in attaching the lower
blade L to, and making it continuous with the upper handle A and to extend the
lower handle B after crossing over to the middle of the movable blade K attaching
it to the same by a hinge of limited movement to enable it to meet and adapt
itself to the plate and be parallel to the lower blade as indicated.
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. As a hot plate holder and serving appliance the double bladed apparatus having
parallel action from the boxes D, E, and strips I, J when operated by the two
handles A, B, as described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3 and of the annexed
drawings.
2. The modified upper blade K Figure 5 for obtaining parallel or adjustable action
from its pivot pin when operated by its handles A, B, for the purpose set forth.
The 3rd day of December 1887
H. GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said S. H. Simpson.