Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 16th Jan., 1897
I, VICTOR MARSHALL HAWLEY, of 306 West 22nd Street, in the City of New
York, County and State of New York, U.S.A., Manufacturer, do hereby declare
the nature of my 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 aims to provide a device to be used in connection with steeping or
drawing tea, coffee, and similar beverages, and which can be readily applied to
coffee pots, pitchers, cups and vessels of varying sizes and operate successively with
each the same as if specially devised for a vessel of given size.
A further object of the invention is the provision of a bag or strainer for
supporting the tea or coffee so as to present a small surface at the bottom, whereby
the volume of water cr liquid is concentrated to a central point and must of
necessity pass through a greater bulk of the coffee or tea and extract a greater
amount of the essential qualities therefrom.
A still further purpose of the invention is the provision of a structure whereby
the strainer or bag can be readily placed in position and quickly detached for
cleaning or other purposes, and which, when in operative relation, will be firmly
and securely held in place without extra fastening means or the necessity of
providing retaining-prongs or other means which will require a puncturing or
cutting of the said strainer-bag to secure it to supporting projections.
With these ends in view the invention consists, essentially, of a conical_shaped
utensil having an inner supporting ledge or shoulder near its upper end, above
which projects a rim or flange to receive a cover, a ring having an annular groove
in its outer side contiguous to the lower edge and adapted to rest upon the said
ledge or shoulder, and a conical shaped strainer constructed of cloth and adapted to
have its upper end sprung into the groove of the said ring, and adapted to be
confined between the lower edge of the said ring and the ledge or shoulder, all as
will appear more fully hereinafter.
Referring to the drawings:-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the invention.
Fig. 2 is a vertical central section of the device.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the ring having the strainer attached thereto, a
portion of the latter being broken away to show more clearly the annular groove
provided in the outer side of the said ring.
The improved percolator comprises a utensil 1, which is conical shaped to adapt
it to vessels of different sizes, and which is provided near its upper end with a
horizontal annular shoulder or ledge 2, above which projects a vertical rim or
flange 3, upon which is fitted a cover 4, of any desired pattern. This utensil is
formed from sheet metal, preferably tin, the parts 1, 2, and 3 being integrally
constructed in any desired manner common in the art of sheet-metal working. The
ring 5 is of a size approximating the diameter of the rim or flange 3, so as to fit
within the latter and rest upon the shoulder or ledge 2.
An annular groove 6 is formed in the outer side of the ring a short distance from
the lower edge thereof, and is adapted to receive the upper end of the strainer 7
which is sprung or otherwise secured in the said groove 6. This ring 5 is

page_text: preferably formed from sheet metal, and has its edge portion folded or wired to
obviate sharp edges and strengthen and brace the same, the annular groove 6 being
formed in the ring by spinning, stamping, or in any other manner common in the
art of manufacturing sheet-metal ware, and the lower beaded edge, which extends
outward beyond the vertical body portion of the ring, forms an annular rib and is
adapted to rest upon the horizontal ledge 2.
The strainer 7 is an approximately conical-shaped bag formed from textile
fabric, such as usually employed in the manufacture of cloth strainers for culinary
purposes. The upper edge of this strainer is tape-bound, or reinforced in any
desired manner, and is of such relative size as to enable it to be sprung over the
ring 5 and become seated in the groove 6 thereof. This strainer should be slightly
smaller than the utensil 1, within which it is supported, so as to leave a surrounding
space between it and the surrounding sides of the said utensil, thereby providing
for the free passage of the fluid extract into the vessel upon which the percolator
may be placed. By having the lower portion of the strainer contracted, the coffee,
tea, or other substance from which it is required to extract the essential flavors
and qualities is confined in a small space, and the water or other fluid is contracted
to a central point and passes through a greater bulk of the said substance,
subsequently extracting more strength from the said substance than would be
possible if the sides of the strainer were parallel.
In assembling the parts, the strainer is fitted to the ring and the latter is placed
within the utensil and is supported therein upon the ledge or shoulder 2, the upper
portion of the strainer being deflected and confined between the said shoulder or,
ledge and the lower edge of the ring, thereby providing a sure and positive means
for sustaining the strainer against the weight of the substance placed therein
and the water or fluid poured thereon to extract the strength and flavor from the
said substance.
It will be seen that the strainer can be readily detached from the percolator for
cleaning or other desired purposes, and can be quickly placed in position for use
when desired. The depending rim 8 of the cover 4 enters the annular space formed
between the ring 5 and the rim 3, so as to centralize the said ring 5 and insure its
obtaining a uniform bearing upon the ledge or shoulder 2, and the upper edges of
the rim and the ring are arranged in the same horizontal plane in order that the
cover will contact with both of them to provide a double joint. This is clearly
indicated in Fig. 2.
The percolator may be used in connection with a coffee or tea pot of any pattern
and size within certain limits, and may be fitted to a pitcher, cup, or other vessel,
and by reason of its tapering form will adapt itself to the various vessels and
different sizes thereof, as will be readily understood.
While metal is preferred in the construction of the percolator, it is obvious that
any material suitable for the purpose may be used in the formation of the same;
also, changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be
resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages
of this invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
A. percolator comprising a body composed of a lower portion, a vertical rim and
a horizontal shoulder or ledge connecting the rim and the lower portion, a detachable
ring arranged vertically within the rim, forming an annular intervening space and
provided at its lower edge with an outwardly-extending rib resting upon the
horizontal ledge or shoulder of the body, the upper edge of the ring being arranged
in same horizontal plane as the upper edge of the rim, a strainer-bag having its
mouth arranged on the said rib and secured between the same and the ledge or
shoulder of the body, and a cover having a depending flange fitting in the annular

page_text: space between the ring and the rim, said cover contacting with both the ring
and the rim to provide a double joint at the top, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
Dated this 12th day of October 1896.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97 Newgate Street, London, Agent for Applicant.