IMPROVEMENTS IN CANS FOR MILK AND OTHER LIQUIDS
Year: 1883

page_text: U
LETTERS PATENT to William Blizard Williamson of the firm of W. B. Williamson
and Sons of the Oity of Worcester Manufacturers for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CANS FOR MILK AND OTHER LIQUIDS"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William
Blizard
Williamson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
26th September 1883.
WILLIAM BLIZARD WILLIAMSON of the firm of W. B. Williamson and Sons of
the City of Worcester Manufacturers "IMPROVEMENTS IN CANS FOR MILK AND
OTHER LIQUIDS
"
In the use of the cans ordinarily employed for holding milk great inconvenience
and loss arise from the escape of milk between the lid and body of the can on the
motion of the can during its transference from place to place. My invention has
for its object to remedy the said inconvenience and prevent the said waste and
consists of the improvements hereinafter described whereby the lid of the can is
rapidly and securely fitted to and removed from the can and when fitted. thereto
effectually prevents the escape of milk while permitting of free ventilation of the
upper part of the can.
My invention is especially adapted for milk cans but is also applicable to cans
for holding other liquids.
I will describe my invention as applied to a milk can.
I make the body of the can preferably of the usual conical form with an
expanded top or mouth. At the junction of the said mouth with the body I make
an internal projection or shoulder all round the can. On this shoulder a dish like
false top fits the top rim or edge of the said cover resting on the internal projection
or shoulder of the can. This false top is fixed in its place by the cover as herein-
after explained. The said false top has holes in its sides and other holes in its
bottom near the edge. When by the motion of the can milk is projected or
splashed upwards it passes through the holes in the sides of the false dish like to p
into the interior of the said top and runs back into the can through the holes in
the bottom of the false top.

page_text: The true cover or lid of the can is of a dish like figure and fits in the expanded
top of the can its bottom pressing upon and fixing down the false top described.
The lid has a central opening covered on the upper side of the lid by a hollow
cylinder closed at top but having small openings near its top. The fastening consists
of a slightly concave spring bar connected at its middle with the cover of the
central opening and capable of a limited sliding motion thereon. One end of this
spring bar passes through a guiding staple on the edge of the lid and is turned
down into a hook like form and the other end carries a hasp which when the bar
is pressed down engages with a staple on the side of the mouth of the can and
may be secured by a padlock. In fixing the lid the spring bar is pushed so as to
remove its hooked end to its greatest distance from the edge of the lid. The lid
is then placed in the mouth of the can the spring bar is drawn so as to make its
hooked end engage under the edge of the mouth of the can the hasp at the other
end of the bar is engaged with its staple and locked when the can may be moved
about without risk of any of its contents escaping. Although I prefer making the
false top separate from the lid for convenience in cleaning yet it may be connected
thereto if preferred. The central hole in the lid may have a baffle plate fixed near
its lower end so as more effectually to prevent liquid rising into it.
My invention may be applied to cans of any shape and to cans made of tin
plate or other hard metal or alloy as well as to cans made wholly or mainly of
wood.
0
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Blizard Williamson in the Patent Office on the
10th March 1884.
WILLIAM BLIZARD WILLIAMSON of the firm of W. B. Williamson and Sons of
the City of Worcester, Manufacturers "IMPROVEMENTS IN CANS FOR MILK AND
OTHER LIQUIDS
"
In the use of the cans ordinarily employed for holding milk, great inconvenience
and loss arise from the escape of milk between the lid and the body of the can on
the motion of the can during its transference from place to place. My invention has
for its object to remedy the said inconvenience and prevent the said waste and
consists of the improvements hereinafter described, whereby the lid of the can is
rapidly and securely fitted to and removed from the can and when fitted thereto
effectually prevents the escape of milk while permitting of free ventilation of the
upper part of the can.
My invention is especially adapted for milk cans but is also applicable to cans
for holding other liquids.
I will describe my invention as applied to a milk can.

page_text: I. make the body of the can preferably of the usual conical form with an
expanded top or mouth. At the junction of the said mouth with the body I make
an internal projection or shoulder all round the can. On this shoulder a dish like
false top fits, the upper rim or edge of the said top resting on the internal
projection or shoulder of the can. This false top is fixed in its place by the cover
as hereinafter explained. The said false top has holes in its sides and other holes.
in its bottom near the edge. When by the motion of the can milk is projected or
splashed upwards it passes through the holes in the sides of the false dish like top
into the interior of the said top and runs back into the can through the holes in the
bottom of the false top.
The true cover or lid of the can is of a dish like figure and fits in the expanded
top of the can, its bottom pressing upon and fixing down the false top described.
The lid has a central opening covered on the upper side of the lid by a hollow
cylinder closed at top but having small openings near its top. The fastening
consists of a slightly concave spring bar connected at its middle with the cover of
the central opening and capable of a limited sliding motion thereon. One end of
this spring bar passes through a guiding staple on the edge of the lid and is turned
down into a hook like form and the other end carries a hasp which when the bar
is pressed down engages with a staple on the side of the mouth of the can and may
be secured by a padlock. In fixing the lid the spring bar is pushed so as to
remove its hooked end to its greatest distance from the edge of the lid. The lid is
then placed in the mouth of the can, the spring bar is drawn so as to make its
hooked end engage under the edge of the mouth of the can, the hasp at the other
end of the bar is engaged with its staple and locked when the can may be moved
about without risk of any of its contents escaping. Although I prefer making the
false top separate from the lid for convenience in cleaning, yet it may be connected
thereto if preferred. The central hole in the lid may have a baffle plate fixed near
its lower end so as more effectually to prevent liquid rising into it.
My invention may be applied to cans of any shape and to cans made of tin
plate or other hard metal or alloy as well as to cans made wholly or mainly
of wood.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings the
manner in which my invention is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in side elevation; Figure 2 in vertical section and Figure 3
in plan of upper side, a milk can containing my improvements the lid or cover
being represented fastened in its place; Figure 4 represents in side elevation and
Figure 5 in plan of upperside the said can with the lid or cover unfastened; The
same letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
a is the conical body of the can having an expanded top or mouth as usual; b is
an internal projection or shoulder made all round the can at the junction of the
mouth with the body; c is the dish like false top the upper rim or edge of which
rests upon the said internal projection or shoulder b, a washer of india rubber being
interposed between the said rim and shoulder as represented in Figure 2. In the
sides of the false top care holes d, d and other holes e, e are made in the bottom
near its edge as seen in Figure 2; f is the true cover or lid of the can having a
dish like figure. This cover or lid is made so deep that its bottom presses upon
and fixes down tightly the false top e as represented in Figure 2. The lid or
cover f has a central opening g which is covered on the upperside of the lid by the
hollow cylinder h closed at top but having small openings or air vents i, i near
its top.
When by the motion of the can, milk is projected or splashed upwards it passes
through the holes d, d in the sides of the false top o into the interior of the said
top and runs back into the can through the holes e, e in the bottom of the false
top. The lid or cover fis fastened to the body of the can by the spring sliding
bar k crossing the said lid as a diameter. The said bar k is connected at its middle
by a pin and slot at 1 with the cylindrical cover h and is capable of a limited
sliding motion; m is a guiding staple for the fastening bar k to work through, the

page_text: end of the bar nearest the said staple being hooked downwards at n. The other
end of the bark has a hasp p jointed to it which when turned down engages with
the stapler on the side of the head of the can and may be secured by a padlock as
seen in Figure 1.
In order to fix the lid or cover f to the can, the fixing bar k is made to occupy
the position represented in Figures 4 and 5. The lid or cover having been
placed in the mouth of the can a, the bar k is drawn into the position represented
in Figures 1, 2 and 3 so as to make its hooked end n engage with the edge at 8 of
the can and the hasp p at the other end of the bar is engaged with the staple r
and locked in its place. As the bar is connected to the lid at its middle, the ends
of the said bar slightly yield when pressure is put upon them for fastening the lid
or cover. The can thus constructed and fastened may be moved about without
risk of any of its contents escaping.
Figure 6 represents in vertical section and Figure 7 in plan of upper side, a
modification of my invention in which modification the false top instead of being
separate from the lid or cover forms part of the said lid or cover, but may be
detached therefrom for cleaning or other purpose; Figure 8 represents the connected
cover and false top detached from the can and Figure 9 represents an elevation of
the upper part of the milk can; Figure 10 a plan of underside of the cover without
the false top; Figure 11 a side elevation of the cover; Figure 12 a section and side
elevation and Figure 13 a plan of underside of the false top detached.
In this modification the dish shaped cover f is made deeper than that hereinbefore
described and is supported in the mouth as of the milk can by its bottom resting
on the internal projection or shoulder b. The detachable perforated false top c is
furnished with three equi-distant hook like catches q, q, q and the rim.at the edge
of the open bottom of the cover f furnished with three slots t, t, t for the three
catches q, q, q on the false top to pass through. After the catches q..q, q have been:
passed through the slots t. t. t the false top c is turned through a small angle. The
shoulders of the hook like catches q, q, q are thereby made to engage with the rim
of the cover f so as thereby to fasten the false top to the said cover as seen in
Figures 6 and 8. By reversing the motion of the false top e until its catches are
brought into the slots t, t, t the said top is unfastened and may be detached from.
the cover.
The fastening bar k in this modification is depressed at. its middle
instead of being flat as in the fastening 'bar already described and the guiding.
staple is dispensed with.
Figure 14 represents in vertical section and Figures 15 and 16 in plan, a
portion of a milk can containing another modification of my invention; Figure 17
represents the head of the milk can without the cover and false top; Figure 18
represents in section the combined cover and false top detached from the body of
the can; Figure 19 the same without the removeable bottom of the false top and
Figure 20 represents the same with the removeable bottom connected to the
false top.
In this modification the cover f is nearly flat instead of a dish form and its edge,
is supported on the inner flange or shoulder b in the head a² of the milk can.
The
perforated side of the false top is permanently connected to the cover ƒ but
the perforated bottom c² of the false top c can be attached to and detached from
the perforated side part c. For this purpose, the side part c has a cross bar which
is provided with two turn catches x, x and the removeable bottom c³ is furnished.
with slots y, y through which the catches x, x may be passed. The turn catches,
having been brought parallel with the sides of the cross bar c as represented t
in Figure 19, the slots y, y in the perforated bottom care passed over the said
turn catches. By now turning the catches at right angles to the slots. y, y
bottom c² is fastened to the side part c of the false top as seen in Figure 18.
the
In this modification the spring fastening bar k instead of having a sliding
motion, is pivoted at 2 to the middle of the cover f so as to be capable of a partial
rotation. One end of the pivoted bar k carries a jointed stapler and the other,
end can be engaged under the projection a³ on the head a³ of the can so as to

page_text: fasten the combined cover and false top to the can as illustrated in Figure 14.
When the bar fis in the position Figure 14, its jointed staple is brought opposite
an opening at in the head as of the can and the said staple having been passed
through the said opening as seen in Figure 14 is locked by a padlock.
My improvements are applicable to cans for holding other liquids than milk.
Having now described the nature of my invention and the manner in which the
same is to be performed I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to
the precise details herein described and illustrated as the same may be varied
without departing from the nature of my invention.
But I claim as my invention of "Improvements in cans for milk and other
Liquids.";
First The separate dish like perforated false top e supported upon an internal
projection or shoulder at the junction of the mouth with the body of the can and
the combination with the said false top of the dish like cover f substantially as and
for the purposes herein before described and illustrated in Figures 1. 2 and 4 of the
accompanying Drawings.
Secondly The modification of the said false top and cover herein before
described and illustrated in Figures 6. 8. 10. 11. 12 and 13 of the accompanying
Drawings.
Thirdly The modification of the said false top and cover herein before described
and illustrated in Figures 14. 18. 19 and 20 of the accompanying Drawings.
Fourthly-Fastening the covers of milk and other cans in their places by means
of a fastening the parts of which are combined or arranged in the manner herein
before described and illustrated in Figures 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10 and 11 of the
accompanying Drawings.
Lastly The modification of the said fastening herein before described and
illustrated in Figures 14. 15. 16. 17 and 18 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof I the said William Blizard Williamson have hereunto set my
hand and seal this-seventh-day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty four.
TTTTTTAM DTTADD WITT IAMSON Gal
Witness, FRANK WHEELWRIGHT
Worcester
TTTTTTAM DTTZADD WITTT LAMSON