IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPERTAINING TO CAST- IRON POTS SUCH AS THOSE COMMONLY KNOWN AS 'BELLY-POTS,' AND OTHERS OF LIKE CHARACTER.”
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Vernon Hope, of Wednesbury, in the County of
.
Stafford, for an Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPERTAINING TO CAST-
IRON POTS SUCH AS THOSE COMMONLY KNOWN AS 'BELLY-POTS,' AND OTHERS
OF LIKE CHARACTER.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Vernon Hope at tho
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th March 1881.
JOHN VERNON HOPE, of Wednesbury, in the County of Stafford. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN OR APPERTAINING TO CAST-IRON POTS, SUCH AS THOSE COMMONLY
KNOWN AS BELLY-POTS,' AND OTHERS OF LIKE CHARACTER."
Belly pots as ordinarily constructed have three legs cast on them. These legs
are very apt to snap off carrying a piece of the pot with them. So great is the
breakage from this cause that shippers decline to receive them when shipped in
closed cases, even when the cases appear in good order and condition, and the
amount of breakage in transit from this cause on a consignment to the diamond
fields, for instance, considerably increases the cost of the pots at their destination.
Now my Invention consists, first, in forming the legs into a sort of stand, separate
and loose from the pot, so that they can be packed separately; second, in
strengthening the attachment so that the stand or legs shall have a bearing on the
pot all round instead of at three points only, and, thirdly, in so designing the pot
that it can be used either as an independent pot to stand on its own legs, or be
used as a stove pot to sit in the socket or hole on the top of a cook stove. The
mode I prefer at prosent for accomplishing this object consists in casting a pro-
jecting rim or downward flange on the pot similar to those now used in cook stoves,
only with a bead at the bottom projecting outward, and making the legs of
wrought-iron or other tough metal, rivetted to a band which is fixed when required
round the aforesaid rim or downward flange. I construct this band with two lugs.
and a screw to tighten it on the pot or use other equivalent fastening. When then
the pot is wanted to be used with legs the band is placed round the downward
flange fitting on just above the bead, and is screwed tight. It is now fixed for
use. To adapt it for a stove pot I take off the legs with their accompanying bands,
and it becomes an ordinary stove pot.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent and of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor filed by the said John Vernon Hope in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th September 1881.
JOHN VERNON HOPE, of Wednesbury, in. the County of Stafford. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN OR APPERTAINING TO CAST IRON POTS, SUCH AS THOSE COMMONLY
KNOWN AS BELLY-POTS,' AND OTHERS OF LIKE CHARACTER."
Belly pots as ordinarily constructed have three legs cast on them. These legs
are very apt to snap off carrying a piece of the pot with them. So great is the
breakage from this cause that shippers decline to receive them when shipped
in closed cases, even when the cases appear in good order and condition, and
the amount of breakage in transit from this cause on a consignment to the
diamond fields, for instance, considerably increases the cost of the pots at their
destination.
Now my Invention consists, first, in forming the legs into a sort of stand separate
and loose from the pot so that they can be packed separately; second, in
strengthening the attachment so that the stand or legs shall have a bearing on the
pot all round instead of at three points only, and, thirdly, in so designing the pot
that it can be used either as an independent pot to stand on its own legs, or be
used as a stove pot to sit in the socket or hole on the top of a cook stove.
The mode I at present prefer for accomplishing this object is shown in the
Drawings. Fig. 1 shows a belly pot complete; Fig. 2, stand; Figure 3, pot,
destitute of stand, and Fig. 4, a frying pan used in place of a lid.
In these it will be noticed is a projecting rim or downward flange A on the pot
similar to those now used in cook stoves only with a bead B at the bottom pro-
jecting outward. The legs C of wrought iron or other tough metal are rivetted to
a band D which is fixed when required round the aforesaid rim or downward
flange A. I construct this band with two lugs E and a screw F to tighten it on
the pot or use other equivalent fastening. When then the pot is wanted to be
used with legs the band D is placed round the downward flange A fitting on just
above the bead B, and is screwed tight. It is now fixed for use. To adapt it for
a stove pot I take off the legs with their accompanying bands, and it becomes an
ordinary stove pot.
The upper edge of the pot is inclined outward to fit an ordinary frying pan,
Fig. 4, and this I use in place of a lid, and construct it with a pair of lugs instead
of a handle, into which the handle G of the pot can be hooked so as to suspend it
over the fire, or it can be placed on the leg stand, Fig. 2, and the fire placed
beneath it.
The arrangement of legs can be used for almost all kinds of pots besides belly
pots.
Having now described my Invention and the best mode known to me of carrying
into effect, I claim as my Invention secured under the Letters Patent,―
First. The manufacture of cast iron pots with wrought iron or other suitable
tough metal legs in a separable piece, substantially as described and as shown in
Fig. 1.
Second. Manufacturing the legs of a cast iron pot into a sort of stand separable
and loose from the pot, so that it can be packed separately from the pot, yet be
had a themaL

page_text: Third. The general arrangement and combination of parts forming a complete
belly pot, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Vernon Hope, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty fourth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
Witness to the signature
of John Vernon_Hope,
CAROLINE ISABEL HOPE,
Birchfield,
Nr Birmingham.
JOHN VERNON HOPE. (L.S.)