A NEW OR IMPROVED COOKING UTENSIL
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Shirley Bowden, of Southampton Buildings, Holborn,
Gentleman, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED COOKING UTENSIL."
A communication from abroad by Carl Berker, of Unna, in the Empire of
Germany.
Sealed the 9th August 1878, and dated the 12th February 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Shirley Bowden at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th February 1878.
SHIRLEY BOWDEN, of Southampton Buildings, Holborn, Gentleman.
" A NEW OR
IMPROVED COOKING UTENSIL." [A communication from abroad by Carl Berker, of
Unna, in the Empire of Germany.]
This Invention relates to a new or improved cooking utensil for boiling purposes,
which consists of two single vessels combined together in the following manner :--
The lower or outer vessel I prefer to make in the ordinary form of a boiling pot, but
any other shape may be employed as most convenient. Such lower or outer, as also
the upper or inner vessel, hereafter described, may be made of any suitable metal or
material. Around the inner circumference of the upper part of such lower or outer
vessel I provide suitable projections, such projections being either formed thereon or
affixed thereto in any convenient manner.
The upper or inner vessel serves as a receptacle for the articles intended to be
boiled or cooked, and may be raised or lifted out from the lower or outer vessel as
desired. It is so shaped that it fits conveniently into the lower one, and is pro-
vided at the bottom with a suitable number of feet or supports, which, when it is
placed in the lower vessel, rest upon the bottom thereof. Such projections and sup-
ports correspond in number with each other, and their object is to retain the inner
or upper vessel in an elevated position by raising and conveniently turning the
Prine Bd71

page_text: same round, so that such supports rest upon their corresponding projections. In the
bottom and sides of such upper vessel, in any convenient position, I form holes, slits,
or other suitable apertures, so as to permit the water or liquid contained in the
lower vessel to circulate freely in the upper one, and to escape therefrom when it is
raised or lifted up.
The number and form of these holes or apertures may be varied as most con-
venient, as also the number of the before described projections and supports.
When such supports are so numerous as to become continuous, they constitute a
single rim, and when this form is adopted I prefer to also form suitable apertures in
such rim in order to allow of the free circulation of the water or liquid contained in
the upper and lower vessels.
When such rim is substituted for separate supports or feet the projections before
described may be dispensed with, and the ears of the upper or inner vessel elon-
gated in such a manner that when the same is raised these ears may be placed on
those of the lower or outer vessel, thereby retaining the upper one at a convenient
elevation, so that the water or liquid may escape through the apertures, whilst the
food or other articles contained in the upper vessel remain therein.
It is obvious that as the upper vessel covers the lower or outer vessel when
placed therein, only a single cover is required, which is placed on the top of the
upper vessel.
I would observe that this improved arrangement or construction of a boiling
utensil is distinct from those cooking utensils known as "steamers," and wherein the
boiling or cooking is effected by means of steam, this improved cooking utensil
being a water boiling pot wherein the circulation of the water or other liquid is
impeded as little as possible, and whereby the boiling or cooking is effected solely
by means of the heated water.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Shirley Bowden in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th
August 1878.
"
SHIRLEY BOWDEN, of Southampton Buildings, Holborn, Gentleman. 'A NEW OR
IMPROVED COOKING UTENSIL" (A communication from abroad by Carl Berker, of
Unna, in the Empire of Germany.)
This Invention has for its object improvements in that class of cooking utensils
known as kitchen or boiling pots.
And in order that such Invention may be better understood and readily carried
into effect, I will now, with the aid of the accompanying Drawings, whereon similar
letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, proceed more particularly to describe
and ascertain the same.
Figure 1 of such Drawings shews a view in vertical section of the pot, shewing
the same ready for use.
.1
Figure 2 is a similar view, shewing the inner pot partly lifted out and being
rested by its handles on the handles of the outer pot.
Figure 3 shews the same pot in the same view as before, the inner pot being
rested on projections applied to the inside of the outer pot.
Figure 4 is a top view of the pot shewn in Figure 3, the lid being omitted.
Figure 5 is a top view of the pot, as before, with lid, shewing how the slots cut in
the oblique rim of the bottom part of the inner pot pass around and over the pro-
jections aforesaid.
Figure 6 is the same pot and same view as shewn in Figure 2, the inner pot
being arranged with slots instead of the small round holes shown in Figure 2.
Figures 7 and 7ª are top and side views of a peculiar lid used with the said pot
for the purpose of boiling rice.
Figure 8 shews such improved pot with its lid being lifted.
Figure 9 shews such improved pot arranged to be used for a washing caldron, the
rods arranged at each side being slotted obliquely, allowing the inner pot to be
lowered and raised at liberty.
.
Figure 9 shews one of these said rods.
Figure 10 is a soldier's or tourist's camping pot.
Figure 11 shews a complete pot for boiling milk or for stewing purposes.
Figure 11a is a transverse section, Figure 11b is a top view, and Figure 11° is a
side view of a peculiar ring fitting in the outer pot, shewn in Figure 11.
Figure 12 is a section of a pot for the same purposes as indicated in Figure 11,
being arranged with a funnel to prevent the milk from boiling over.
Figure 12a shews the same view of this said pot with the inner pot partly lifted
out and resting on its handles, and with the annular piece, shewn in Figures 11*,
11b, and 11º, rested in the outer pot on the bottom of this latter.
Figure 12b is a top view of the pot as shewn in Figure 12, and shews the per-
forations of the funnel.
This improved cooking utensil offers many accommodations; the burning of the
food becomes impossible, one's hands are not burned when pouring off the broth or
the milk, the pot is easy to be handled, and perfect cleanliness is attained.
Such improved pot consists of two main parts, that is to say, of an outer pot and
an inner pot, the latter being perforated. Composed of these two parts, it serves for
boiling such kinds of food which are poured off when ready boiled, such as potatoes,
fish, vegetables, and such like.
Figures 1 to 6 show this improved pot composed of the said two parts or vessels,
both being closed by one lid a. The sides of the inner pot and its bottom are per-

page_text: forated like a sieve or partly provided with slots, as illustrated in Figure 6. The
oblique rim b of the bottom of the inner pot is provided with a number of slots or
openings to allow the boiling water to circulate freely. The oblique rim b serves
also for keeping the inner pot on the projections c by turning the handle of this pot
after the latter has been lifted out sufficiently so as to form an acute angle with the
said supporters c. These said supporters c may be omitted by arranging the
handles d to keep the inner pot after being lifted out, as shewn in Figures 2 and 6.
When applying this last-named arrangement the inner pot after being lifted out is
simply turned round in a horizontal direction, and placed with its handles upon the
handles of the outer pot, being kept by these means in a hanging position.
.
Figure 8 shews the peculiar construction of the lid used with this said pot. The
said lid is provided with slots or openings cut into its rim, which said slots are
fitting around the handles when the pot is to be closed.
If it is desired to air the pot the lid is lifted and turned horizontally, so that the
full part of the rim of the said lid meets with the curved handles. When resting on
the latter the space between the upper edge of the pot and the lower surface of the
lid remains open, by which the outside air may enter the inner pot.
The water used for boiling the food circulates in both of the vessels. "A layer of
water of about to 1 inch deep, according to the size of pots used, is arranged
between the sides and the bottoms of the two vessels; this said layer of water,
steam, or air prevents the burning of the food when boiling the same, or having the
same stewed.
A boiling over will not take place provided the pot is not made too full, this being
prevented by the peculiar construction of the foot or oblique rim applied to the bottom
of the inner pot, which said foot or annular rim allows the water to pass up between
the sides of the two pots at a few certain places only; otherwise the water would
pass up between the sides and boil over, if it were not prevented from doing so by,
the peculiar arrangement of the annular foot, herein-before mentioned; this would
happen particularly with food to be boiled in dense layers.
The outer pot may also be used as a common kitchen pot, whilst the inner pot
may serve for a strainer.
The said lid used for boiling rice, as shewn in Figures 7 and 74, fits into the inner
pot so as to easily glide up and down in the same. The boiling water or the boiling
rice raises this said loose lid as high as up to the edge, whence the rising fluid
may escape through a series of wider holes or openings into the space between the
two pots.
Another suitable arrangement for placing the inner pot in a stationary position
above the outer pot is illustrated in Figure 9. Both of the supporters or rods g, g,
are fastened to the outside of the outer pot, and are provided with slots serving for
holding the handles of the inner pot. The inner pot may be raised at will, and be 4
hung commodiously in the slots of these said rods. The handles of the outer pot are
arranged at will with this last-named construction. This said pot, designed for a
washing caldron, may, on account of its size and its construction, also be used for
boiling food for cattle of any kind.
The supporter or rod g is shewn in Figure 9a.
The said washing caldron, as illustrated in Figure 9, shews substantially the same
peculiarities as the pots herein described, and is provided with a loose bottom, which
may be exchanged for another when desired.
4
There is a difference between this said washing caldron and other caldrons in so
far as the boiling of the linen in this said caldron takes place more equally on 5
account of the hot water and the steam created entering in and acting upon the
linen to be cleaned more uniformly than in other automatic washing caldrons, the
water in which after being led up finds a rather too commodious way downwards
again. The inner pot in this said washing caldron may be turned easily and at
liberty. The linen can never burn, and it can be taken out commodiously, because 5
the boiling water runs out as soon as the inner pot is raised. If the linen is to be

page_text: taken out at several times the inner pot is to be hung into the slots of the rods g, g,
as desired.
The soldier's or tourist's camping pot, as shown in Figure 10, differs in no sub-
stantial regard from the several constructions herein-before set forth. It is smaller
and of an oval form.
The pot for boiling milk and for stewing differs from the constructions already
described by its inner pot not being perforated, and the latter being provided at its
upper end with a rim r extending horizontally to the outside, so as to entirely shut
up the outer pot as soon as it is put into the latter..
Instead of the oblique rim fastened to the outside of the bottom part of the per-
_forated inner pot, a separate rim, as shewn in Figures 11ª, 11b, and 11º, is loosely
placed in the outer pot with this said construction. The said loose annular rim is
applied for the same purpose as is the fixed oblique rim described with the per-
forated inner pot; this loose rim is provided with openings, more or less narrow,
according to the size of the pot, which said openings the water is to press itself
through in order to be prevented from boiling over. The said loose annular rim is
not fixed to the inner pot in order to make use of this latter for other purposes yet.
There is no danger for the water in the outer pot to be consumed too early, because
it finds but little room for evaporation between the sides of the two pots. This
last-named pot, as shewn in Figures 12, 12ª, and 12b, has a tube e, which passes
through the lid of the inner pot, extending to about the bottom of the latter; the
other end of this said tube e, extending to above the lid, is enclosed with a funnel f,
being open at its bottom, and also being put in the said lid. A sieve i is arranged
within this said funnel, through which said sieve the upper end of the tube e
extends but a little.
"
If the milk boils too much it will rise in the tube e, and will flow back again into
the inner pot through the sieve i and the funnel f, leaving behind in the said sieve
all fixed ingredients.
If the pot is to be used without the said tube and without funnel, the aperture in
the lid may be closed by a slider.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and the manner of carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood
that what I claim as new and desire to secure by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is,―
Firstly. The manufacture and use of a kitchen pot consisting of two pots to be
placed one into the other, the outer one of these pots or vessels being arranged with
projections, whilst the bottom and the sides of the inner pot, or the bottom only, or
the sides only of the latter, are provided with holes, slots, or similar apertures, as and
for the purpose herein-before set forth, and the forming the bottom of the inner
pot by putting a sieve into the same, as herein-before described.
Secondly. The combination with the inner pot of a lid for boiling rice, as herein-
before described.
Thirdly. The combination with the pots of an outside lid provided with slots or
openings, as herein-before set forth.
Fourthly. The peculiar arrangement of the handles of the said pots, as herein-
before described.
Fifthly. The supporters or rods g, g, provided with slots for the purpose of receiving
the handles of the inner pot for suspending the same at any desired height, substan-
tially as herein-before set forth.
Sixthly. The combination with the inner pot of an oblique rim fixed to the same,
such rim being provided with apertures, slots, or similar openings, as and for the
purpose herein-before described.
Seventhly. The combination with the inner pot of an annular ring or rim placed
loosely in the outer pot, as and for the purpose herein-before described.
Eighthly. The combination with the pot for boiling milk of a tube e, a funnel f,

page_text: and a sieve i; all substantially as and for the purpose herein-before set forth and
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Shirley Bowden, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Ninth day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
SHIRLEY BOWDEN. (L.S.)