Improved Means for Preserving certain Perishable Articles of Food.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 13th June, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 29th July, 1898-Accepted, 15th Oct.,
1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Preserving certain Perishable Articles of Food.
I, MARY EVELINA MELSOM, of 32, Angell Road, Brixton, London, S.W.,
Married, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object the preservation of perishable articles such as
food stuffs, and consists in a vessel or vessels of any shape, with an annular recess
around its edge, and so arranged that when the cover of the vessel is closed that the
annular recess shall be open to the interior of the vessel; the annular recess is
for the purpose of holding water. or any other fluid or fluid mixture or preservative
agent which has a tendency to arrest corruption of the food stuff in the vessel,
for a time until required for use.
Dated this 13th day of June 1808
I, MARY EVELINA MELSOM, of 32, Angell Road, Brixton, in the County of Surrey,
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:
This invention relates to improved means for preserving for a limited period
such articles of food which require moisture in order to keep them fresh. It
is specially intended for keeping bread, cheese, liquid mustard, and such like
articles of food in.daily use, fresh for several days.
The invention consists essentially in furnishing the vessel in which the particular
article of food is kept with a receptacle for holding water, or a suitable liquid
admixture capable of arresting decomposition. The said receptacle can be formed
on the vessel or made detachable therefrom. It can be arranged in any convenient
position so long as the contents thereof will be exposed to the interior of the said
vessel. In use, I find that a channel around the upper portion of the vessel, just
under the cover, to be the most suitable form of receptacle. The evaporation of
the water in this receptacle moistens the air within the vessel and so keeps the
food therein fresh.
Examples of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in
which;
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Figure 1 shews a vessel having a channel formed thereon.

page_text: Figure 2, shews a smaller vessel or pot that can be used for keeping mustard in
and having an annular channel for water, and
Figure 3, shews the upper portion of a vessel fitted with a detachable channel.
It will be understood that although the channel is shewn arranged in the upper
part of the vessel it may be formed or placed in the lower portion of the same if
desired, also in lieu of the said channel a central cup or trough can be used with
equal effect.
In the drawings (A) is a vessel for holding the particular article of food. It
may be made of earthenware, glass, or other suitable material. (B) is the cover
for the same which in some cases must be perforated. (C) is the channel or
receptacle for the water, and (1) is a grid for carrying such food as bread. By
the use of this grid the air can circulate under say the bread as well as around it
in order that the whole surface may be kept moist.
The channel may be made separate from the vessel and attached thereto by
suitable hooks. It may be constructed in one piece or in several segments.
When the channel or other form of receptacle is formed on the vessel a hole may
be made in the lowest portion fitted with a plug, to be used for draining off the
contents when desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
-
Firstly. The means for preserving for a limited period such articles of food which
require moisture in order to keep them fresh substantially as herein set forth.
Secondly. The combination of a vessel such as (A) and cover (B), with a recep-
tacle for water or a suitable liquid, arranged in the manner and for the purposes as
herein set forth.
Thirdly. The combination of a vessel such as (A), cover (B), and a fixed or
detachable channel (C), with or without the grid (D), substantially as and for
the purposes herein set forth.
Dated the 29th day of July 1898
W. D. ROWLINGSON,
7, Quality Court, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.