Improvements in Canisters for Comminuted Detergents.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 6th July, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Dec., 1891-Accepted, 2nd Jan., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by FREDERICK S. FAIRCHILD, of Bridgeport,
Connecticut, U.S.A., Manufacturer.]
Improvements in Canisters for Comminuted Detergents.
I, HENRY HARINGTON LEIGH, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., Fel. Inst. P.A., practising
as Phillips & Leigh, of No. 22, Southampton Buildings. Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in canisters for
containing soap powder or other comminuted detergents. In carrying it into effect,
I provide a hollow cylinder which is fitted with a loose cover and may be provided
with suitable means for fixing it in position to a wall. Inside the cylinder there is
a stirrer. The bottom of the cylinder is perforated, and a valve is provided to
control these perforations. The normal position of the ports in the valve under
the action of a suitable returning spring or equivalent device is non-coincident with
the perforations in the bottom of the cylinder. When the valve is moved against the
action of the spring, its ports and the said perforations are coincident, and the
detergent drops out. The cylinder, stirrer, and valve have preferably a common
axis.
Dat his oth
T.... 1001
HENRY H. LEIGH.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Canisters for Comminuted Detergents.
I, HENRY HARRINGTON LEIGH Assoc. M. Inst. C.E. Fel. Inst. P.A. practising
as Phillips & Leigh of No. 22 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and the manner in which the same is to be performed to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to certain novel and useful improvements in canisters for
holding soap powder and similar substances, and has for its object to provide a
device of this description whose contents may be discharged in small quantities as
required for use; in which the rate of discharge may be under the control of the
operator which may be actuated for the release of the contents, and the latter
caught by the use of one hand only; and in which the movements of the handle
shall agitate and loosen the contents; and with these ends in view my invention
consists in the construction and combination of elements hereinafter fully set forth
and then recited in the claims.
In order that those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains may fully
understand its construction and method of operation, I will describe the same in
detail, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and the numerals marked
thereon, which form a part of this Specification.
Figure 1, is an elevation of a canister constructed in accordance with my inven-
tion, the side wall being broken away to show the internal construction,
Figure 2, is a vertical section at right angles to Figure 1,
Figure 3, is a transverse section at the line y-y of Figure 2, looking in the
direction of the arrow,
Figure 4, is a section on line v-v of Figure 2,
Figure 5 a vertical section of a modified form of canister.

page_text: 1 represents a canister or receptacle preferably of sheet metal having a suitable
cover 2, and provided with a bottom 3 a short distance above its lower end.
4 is a
slide rod having a bearing in the bottom 3 and another bearing for its upper end in
a cross piece 5 secured within the canister. Said rod carries a stop 6 between which
and the bottom wall 3 is interposed a spiral spring 7.
The lower end of this slide
rod outside of the bottom wall bears à cross bar 8 from which projects a handle 9
having a knob or finger pad 10 upon its end. This handle projects outward through
a slot 11 in the side wall of the canister, by which the handle is guided and its
movement limited. The bottom wall 3 has formed therein one or more slightly
tapered perforations, and through each of these projects upward a tapered
rod or plug 12 whose lower end is attached to the cross bar 8. Each of these rods
carries suitable stirring wires or agitators 13. A bracket 14 is attached to the
canister for the purpose of supporting the latter upon a suitable connection with
the wall or other fixed object.
The apparatus above described is filled with soap powder or other substance
required to be discharged. When all parts are in their normal positions the tapered
holes in the bottom wall are tightly closed by means of the tapered rods 12. To
discharge the contents, downward pressure is applied to the handle, whereby the
tapered rods are backed out of the holes and an annular opening thereby afforded
at each hole for the escape of the contents, the size of said opening being directly
proportional to the downward movement of the handle. When the handle is
released the spring 7 raises it and the parts thereunto attached, the agitators
serving to stir up and loosen the contents both during the downward and the upward
movement of the handle, but particularly when the latter, which is a quick spring-
actuated throw suddenly checked by the abutment of the cross bar against the
bottom wall. This jars the canister and tends to loosen and shake down the
contents.
The relation of the operating handle to the lower open end of the canister is such
that the palm of the hand may be placed below the opening to catch the powder,
the handle being meanwhile operated by the thumb to any extent desired. The
Jocation of the handle near the bottom of the device is also convenient; inasmuch
as if it were at the top the outer surface of the canister would be constantly
disfigured and soiled by the application of wet hands thereto. The tapered shape
of the rods 12 is convenient, since the operator is enabled according to his need
either to withdraw them slightly and thereby permit a small quantity of the contents
to escape, or he may operate the handle throughout a greater distance and thereby
obtain a greater quantity.
In Figure 5, I show a canister like that of the preceding figures, except that the
escape opening in the bottom is of uniform size, and the rod, which I here denote
by 15, is smaller than the opening which latter is closed by the engagement of cross
bar 8 against the bottom as shown in the drawing.
This makes the escape uniform, but the canister is of somewhat cheaper construc-
tion and operates sufficiently well for all practical purposes.
I do not wish to be limited to the precise constructions herein shown and
described, since these may be varied in minor particulars without departing
from the essentials of my invention. Therefore, without confining myself in respect
to details,
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. The combination with the canister having a perforated bottom, of a vertically
movable slide rod, a handle attached at the lower end of said slide rod, and one or
more rods or plugs projecting upward through the holes in the bottom of the canister
and movable with the handle, substantially as described.
2. The combination with the canister having a bottom provided with openings for
the escape of its contents, of the central slide rod spring-actuated in one direction

page_text: and suitably guided, a cross-bar on the lower end of said slide rod, tapered rods
projecting upward from said cross-bar into the canister, an operating handle
secured at or near the lower end of the slide rod, and suitable stirring devices or
agitators mounted upon the rods within the canister, substantially as described.
3. The combination with the canister having a perforated bottom, of the vertically
movable slide rod mounted within said canister and projecting downwardly there-
from, a handle secured to said slide rod without the case, and one or more
stoppers carried by said slide rod and projecting upward into the canister, substan-
tially as set forth.
4. The combination with the canister having perforations in its bottom, of a cross-
bar bearing tapered plugs extending upward through said perforations, a handle
whereby said plugs may be retracted, and a spring for operating said plugs inward
to close the holes.
Dad 1
J
1001
HENRY H. LEIGH.