Improvements in Devices for Retaining_Circular Objects in Plonio, Luncheon, or Tea Baskets.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 9th Dec., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Devices for Retaining_Circular Objects in Plonio,
Luncheon, or Tea Baskets.
I, GILDEROY SCOTT, of 144 Charing Cross Road, London, W.C. Picnic and
Luncheon Basket Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This my invention relates to improvements in devices for retaining circular
objects in picnic, luncheon or tea baskets, and the object of my invention is to
retain plates, saucers, a spirit lamp or other circular objects in said baskets by
means of certain novel devices, hereinafter described.
My invention consists in constructing said devices of spring wire in such a manner
that their consequent elasticity will be instrumental in retaining circular objects
(such as those herein before mentioned) in position when inserted between or into
said devices. For the purpose of this invention the construction of said devices
may differ (according to the shape of the article to be retained) as hereinafter set
forth.
In order that my invention may be more readily understood, reference is made to
the accompanying drawings wherein like letters indicate corresponding parts
throughout the several figures and in which :-
Figure 1 represents in perspective one form of construction of my invention.
Figure 2 represents a side elevation of Figure 1.
Figure 3 represents in perspective an alternative form of construction of my
invention; and
Figure 4 represents a side elevation of Figure 3.
In carrying out my invention, and referring firstly to the construction of devices
for the purpose of retaining plates, saucers or similar articles in position, as shown
in Figures 1 and 2, I bend a piece of spring wire into the form of a segment of a
circle, of rather less than half a circle, as shown at a, said wire segment passes
through collars 6 which are rivetted at c to the lining d of the lid of a picnic,
luncheon or tea basket and are adapted to hold said segment in position. At e said
wire is bent outwards relatively to the lid, and preferably at right angles to it and
the ends of said wire are bent inwards at g as shown. At a relatively suitable
position of the lining d I attach a bracket or support h which is preferably also
constructed of spring wire and is formed or provided at its outer end with a lip i
for the purpose hereinafter mentioned. Said bracket and spring device form in
combination one form of construction of my invention, and are adapted when used
in combination, to retain one or more plates or saucers in position.
A plate or similar article ; being inserted between the two upright portions k, and
under the inwardly bent portions causes (on the application of sufficient force)
the segment a and upright portions k to open, thus enabling the lower part 1 of the
rim of the plate to be passed over the lip on to the bracket h when the spring
action of said segment will retain the plate in position.
In alternatively constructing a device for the purpose of retaining a spirit lamp
or other articles of a similar shape in a picnic, luncheon or tea basket, I bend a
piece of spring wire into the form of a segment of a circle (as shown in perspective
at m Figure 3) of rather more than half the circumference. The diameter of said
wire segment is rather larger than the diameter of the article intended to be
retained. Said wire segment is secured by means of a collar n rivetted to the
lining o at the bottom of the basket to which the device is applied, and acts as a
spring clutch. The collar n is also provided with a projecting stop p and to each
end 9 of the clutch or segment m is attached one end of a jaw r as shown; the

page_text: other end of said jaws being pivotally attached to the lining o by means of pins
for the purpose hereinafter described.
A spirit lamp or similar article (shown in dotted lines at t) being inserted
between the jaws' r causes said jaws, on the application of sufficient force, to
open against the closing resistance of the spring segment m permitting the
article to be pushed as far as the stop p where it will be gripped and retained
by reason of the spring action of the clutch forcing the article against said stop.
The jaws and stop n are also adapted to enter an annular groove u with which
said article t is provided to prevent said article from slipping off the device, the
pins a serving also to secure the ends of the clutch to the lining.
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 :-
1. In combination with a bracket h having a lip i, a device constructed of spring
wire, and consisting of a segment of a circle of rather less than half the circum-
ference, said segment passing through collars b rivetted to the lining or lid of a
picnic, luncheon or tea basket, and being bent at e and 9 as shown for the purpose,
substantially as described and illustrated.
2. A device constructed of spring wire and consisting of a segment of a circle.
of rather more than half the circumference, passing through a collar n which is
provided with a stop h and is rivetted to the lining or lid of a picnic, luncheon or
tea basket, said device having jaws r pivotally attached at one end to said lining o
by means of pins s and at their other ends attached to the ends q of said wire
segment all for the purpose substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 8th day of November 1893.
HORN & SON,
Applicant's Agents.