Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Jan., 1887.
Complete Left, 14th June, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 15th July, 1887.
WILLIAM HENRY STOCKHAM of 163 High Road, Lee in the County of Kent
Ironmongers Assistant do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
A moveable strainer made to fit any kind of Tea or Coffee Pot finely perforated all
round and at bottom extending nearly to the bottom the top fitting tightly at top of
Tea or Coffee Pot thereby allowing the Tea or Coffee to remain in the Water the whole
time the Pot is in use.
.
The Lid being attached to the Strainer it can be wholly lifted out to enable both
Pot and Strainer to be thoroughly cleansed thereby always ensuring a pure cup of
Tea or Coffee.
WILLIAM HENRY STOCKHAM.

page_text: I, WILLIAM HENRY STOCKHAM of 163 High Road, Lee, in the County of Kent,
Ironmongers Assistant do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
The chief object of my invention is to provide a cheap, simple, and effective strainer
for obtaining tea, coffee, or other infusions or decoctions, which is easily removable
for cleaning or other purposes, while at the same time such strainer shall form a
component and necessary part of the tea, or coffee pot.
By the use of strainers constructed and arranged according to my invention the
herbs, grains, leaves, or particles are effectually strained from the liquor, and also the
said herbs or leaves may be allowed to remain in the water or liquor or may be
conveniently removed entirely therefrom at any time, all as desired.
And in order that my invention may be fully understood I will describe the same
with reference to the accompanying drawings, similar letter of reference indicating
like parts in the various figures.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a tea-pot and strainer combined
constructed according to my invention; Figure 2 is an elevation shewing the strainer
removed from the tea-pot or vessel, such strainer lid being shewn partly opened ;
Figure 3 is a partial sectional elevation of a tea-pot or vessel provided with a strainer
according to my invention, and illustrating one method of fixing the strainer into the
mouth of the vessel; Figure 4 is a side elevation shewing the strainer fitted to an
ordinary coffee-pot.
According to my invention the tea or coffee pot, or other vessel A, in which the
infusion is to be made, may be of any convenient or usual form or configuration,
that shewn at Figure 1 being elliptical in plan, and that at Figure 3, spherical. The
usual lid or cover of the pot or vessel A I dispense with, and into the aperture so left
I adjustably fit a strainer B of a suitable shape generally cylindrical as at
Figures 3 and 4, or elliptical in horizontal section as at Figures 1 and 2, so that
when inserted into the tea, or coffee pot A, the upper ring B' of the strainer B, shall
fit the aforesaid aperture.
I provide the strainer B with a lid C preferably conforming to the design of
vessel A to which it is to be fitted. This lid, which I hinge or fit detachably in any
convenient manner to the strainer B, takes the place of the lid usually hinged to the
body of the vessel itself.
The entire cylindrical or other shaped body of the strainer B may be conveniently
made of finely perforated zinc, woven wire, or other suitable material. One of the
advantages of this form of strainer, is, that the larger superficial area of the straining

page_text: surface enables the perforations, or meshes of the material used, to be extremely fine,
so as to suit the purpose for which the vessel is to be employed.
I generally form the body of the strainer proper B of such a size or shape, that
while it will pass through the aperture in the top of the tea or coffee pot, yet there
shall be a small space between the said strainer B and the sides and bottom of the
outer vessel A.
The upper ring B₁ of the strainer B. is shewn at Figures 1 and 2 as formed to fit
tightly into the tea, or coffee-pot; at Figure 3 the ring B₁ is provided with a male
thread which takes into a female thread on the tea-pot, but I do not confine myself
to these methods of fixing the strainer, although I have found that shewn at
Figures 1 and 3 convenient and simple.
When using tea or coffee pots constructed according to my invention the tea,
coffee, etc. is put in the strainer B which has been previously placed in the pot or
vessel A, and the water is then poured into the strainer, as illustrated at Figure 1,
where the tea-pot is shewn in use. When in use the level of the liquid in the pot
will not be affected by the strainer, either when pouring out the liquid, or at any
other time, by reason of the large superficial area of same, allowing the surface of
the liquid to always keep level.
In conclusion I would remark that in tea-pots constructed according to my
invention there are no small straining bulbs, tubes, or other detachable contrivances,
which are liable to be broken, or to become clogged, lost or injured in cleaning.
By my invention there are no such parts which after cleaning may be forgotten to
be replaced in the tea-pot. The strainer B as herein described cannot be damaged
by ordinary usage, can be easily brushed clean and must necessarily be replaced before
using, such strainer being a component and necessary part of the tea-pot.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that I am aware that it is
not new to stand a canister strainer of cylindrical or other form in a tea-pot, as this
was described in the Specification of H. M. Ogle's Patent A.D. 1817, and by others;
neither is it new to forin such strainer with a flange to rest on the edge of the pot
or vessel. I am also aware that strainers have been used in coffee pots to contain the
coffee from which the infusion is obtained by percolation of water through such coffee
and strainer. It has been heretofore proposed to employ sliding screens between the
tea and the spout opening. Perforated tubes, bulbs and other contrivances for
straining the liquor and protecting the spout opening, have been used, I therefore lay
no claim to such straining appliances, but what I claim is:
1st. Constructing the removable lids or covers of tea or coffee pots and other vessels
used in making infusions and decoctions with strainers substantially in the manner
and for the purposes herein set forth whereby the strainer becomes a component and
necessary part of such vessel.
2nd. In tea, or coffee pots or other vessels used for a like purpose, the combination
of the vessel Á and the strainer and lid B, C, substantially as herein described with
reference to the drawings or any mere modification thereof.
Dated this 14th day of June 1887.
WILLIAM HENRY STOCKHAM.