IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS FOR CLOSING STONEWARE JARS AND OTHER ARTICLES REQUIRING TO BE SIMILARLY CLOSED
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Doulton, of High Street, Lambeth, in the
County of Surrey, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS
FOR CLOSING STONEWARE JARS AND OTHER ARTICLES REQUIRING TO BE
SIMILARLY CLOSED."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Doulton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th November 1880.
HENRY DOULTON, of High Street, Lambeth, in the County of Surrey.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS FOR CLOSING STONEWARE JARS AND OTHER
ARTICLES REQUIRING TO BE SIMILARLY CLOSED."
This Invention has for its object improvements in the means for closing
stoneware jars and other articles requiring to be similarly closed.
The jars, such as pickle jars, preserve pots, and other articles, I form with a ring
or flange on the neck, and there is a narrower raised surface which stands up from
the face of the ring or flange all round.
I also provide a flat cover of the same diameter as the flange of the jar. On the
face of the cover there is also a raised surface corresponding to the surface upon
the jar.
These faces are ground perfectly flat. The fastening which I provide consists of
a narrow band of metal passing diametrically across the top of the cover, and bent
at its ends, so that when the cover is in place the ends of the metal band enter
beneath and engage with the flange upon the jar.
The metal band is also bent inwards beneath the edges of the cover, and to
complete the connection between the fastening and the cover so that these parts
may not become separated in use; a hollow is formed in the centre of the cover and
a metal ball is lodged in it; the strap bent upwards in the middle so as to pass over
the ball, and a forked lever embraces both the ball and the metal band. The lever
is secured to the ball by a pin or axis passed through the ball and through the
ends of the forked lever, or it may be made in one casting. The same lever serves
for tightening the fastening when the cover has been placed in position. For this
I Price 671

page_text: purpose the ends of the lever are made cam shape, and by turning the lever they.
can be made to bear against the surface of the cover, thereby raising the ball, and
the metal band passing over it to the extent necessary to bind the cover sufficiently
firmly to the mouth of the jar or other article.
The cover is slid on to the face of the jar, and when the centre is reached the cam
is depressed by the thumb, thereby raising the fastening, which catches on the
flange of the jar and firmly presses the face of the cover to the face of the jar.
To open it the action is reversed. Instead of sliding the cover on, recesses can
be formed in the rim of the jars corresponding to the turned in ends of the clip;
these ends are then dropped through, turned slightly round, and the cam depressed
as before.
A stop can be formed on the clip if required to prevent the cover travelling
further than the centre.
The fastening band may be made with three ends instead of two.
Jars for export can be made with the top perfectly flat, the cam lying in a
depression in the cover.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Doulton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th May
1881.
HENRY DOULTON, of High Street, Lambeth, in the County of Surrey.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS FOR CLOSING STONEWARE JARS AND OTHER
ARTICLES REQUIRING TO BE SIMILARLY CLOSED."
This Invention has for its object improvements in the means for closing
stoneware jars and other articles requiring to be similarly closed.
The jars, such as pickle jars, preserve pots, and other articles I form with a ring
or flange on the neck, and there is a narrower raised surface which stands up from
the face of the ring or flange all round.
I also provide a flat cover of the same diameter as the flange of the jar. On the
face of the cover there is also a raised surface corresponding to the surface upon
the jar.
These faces are ground perfectly flat. The fastening which I provide consists of
a narrow band of metal passing diametrically across the top of the cover and bent
at its ends, so that when the cover is in place the ends of the metal band enter
beneath and engage with the flange upon the jar.
The metal band is also bent inwards beneath the edges of the cover, and to
complete the connection between the fastening and the cover so that these parts
may not become separated in use; a hollow is formed in the centre of the cover,
and a metal ball is lodged in it; the strap is bent upwards in the middle so as to
pass over the ball, and a forked lever embraces both the ball and the metal band.
The lever is secured to the ball by a pin or axis passed through the ball and
through the ends of the forked lever; or it may be made in one casting. The same
lever serves for tightening the fastening when the cover has been placed in position.
For this purpose the ends of the lever are made cam shape, and by turning the
lever they can be made to bear against the surface of the cover, thereby raising the
ball, and the metal band passing over it to the extent necessary to bind the cover
sufficiently firmly to the mouth of the jar or other article.
The cover is slid on to the face of the jar, and when the centre is reached the
cam is depressed by the thumb, thereby raising the fastening, which catches on the
flange of the jar and firmly presses the face of the cover to the face of the jar.
To open it the action is reversed. Instead of sliding the cover on, recesses can
be formed in the rim of the jars corresponding to the turned in ends of the clip;
these ends are then dropped through, turned slightly round, and the cam depressed
as before.
A stop can be formed on the clip if required to prevent the cover travelling
further than the centre.
The fastening band may be made with three ends instead of two.
Jars for export can be made with the top perfectly flat, the cam lying in a
depression in the cover.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and readily
and readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto
annexed.

page_text: ring or flange upon its neck; a³ is a narrower raised surface standing up from the
ring or flange a¹, and which is ground to a true flat surface; b is the cover, and
6² a raised surface upon it corresponding to the surface a² upon the jar. The
surface b¹ is also ground true and flat.
The clip or fastening consists of a steel or other metal band c bent inwards at its
ends c¹, c', so that it may enter beneath and engage with the ring or flange a' upon
the jar. c2, c, are other bends in the band c which serve with the aid of a central
connection to retain the clip to the cover when the latter is removed from the jar.
To form the central connection between the band and the cover a central cavity is
provided in the cover in which a metal ball c³ is lodged. The band c is arched up
over the ball, and a thumb lever c* forked at one end embraces the ball and band.
The lever c¹ is fixed to the ball by a rivet or pin c passed through both the ball
and the arms of the forked lever. The lever c is so formed also that when it is
turned downwards its forked ends bear against the upper surface of the cover b.
The lever is thus caused to raise the ball and the band c, by which means the
ends c¹ of the band are brought to bear firmly upon the underside of the ring or
flange a' (supposing the cover to be in place) and the cover is securely held in
place.
Figure 4 is a section, and Figure 5 is a side view of a cover and clip, together
with a thumb lever somewhat differently arranged. The lever and ball are in one
piece. The lifting projection is formed upon the top of the ball, and when the
lever is turned down it raises the band by pressing beneath it at the part where
it is arched up over the ball.
Figure 6 is an elevation, and Figure 7 is a plan of a cover and clip, together with
inclines, arranged to take the place of the thumb lever, and to raise the band when
the cover is turned round after being placed upon the mouth of the jar.
d, d, are the inclines; they are formed upon a metal disc which is cemented into
a recess in the cover, and this disc also carries a pin or stud d¹ projecting upwards
from it at the centre and serving as an axis about which the band is able to turn,
or rather, which permits of the cover turning whilst the band remains stationary
upon the neck of the jar, so bringing the inclines beneath the band and forcing
it upwards so as to bind the cover tightly down upon the mouth of the jar or
vessel.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I claim,―
First. The means for closing stoneware jars and like articles of stone ware by
forming the neck and the cover as described, and with narrow surfaces ground flat
to fit the one to the other, such parts being held together by a clip substantially as
described.
Second. The combination of the jar, its cover and clip, all substantially as
described, and illustrated by the annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Doulton, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.