AN IMPROVED MILK SKIMMER, WHICH MAY BE USED FOR SEVERAL VARIOUS OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Howard Busby Fox, of Oxton, in the County of
Chester, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED MILK SKIMMER, WHICH
MAY BE USED FOR SEVERAL VARIOUS OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES."
Sealed the 21st November 1871, and dated the 30th May 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Howard Busby Fox
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 30th May 1871.
I, HOWARD BUSBY Fox, of Oxton, in the County of Chester, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED MILK
SKIMMER, WHICH MAY BE USED FOR SEVERAL VARIOUS OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES,"
to be as follows:-
1
may bo
This my Invention for "An Improved Milk Skimmer, which
used for several various other Useful Purposes," consists in so forming
the pan or bowl which is generally used to contain milk, that the milk
can be poured away into another vessel, and the cream or surface left
in the pan or bowl, the milk being thus perfectly skimmed. To effect
this object a pan or bowl is thus arranged :--Down the side and parallel

page_text: with it and just behind the ordinary spout I attach a diaphragm which
extends to within a small distance from the bottom, and forms a passage
parallel with the side of the pan or bowl. From the spout to about
the centre of the pan or bowl I attach a fixed cover, and at one side
of the open part of the pan or bowl I form a second spout.
The action is thus :-The milk being placed in the pan or bowl in
due time the cream rises to the surface. The milk is then poured away
from the bottom and through the passage formed by the diaphragm.
The cream being thus left in the pan or bowl can be poured away
through the second spout in the open part. It will thus be seen that
the milk is skimmed by one action instead of the troublesome plan of
surfacing it with a spoon or ladle.
The skimming of milk by my apparatus is effected with greater
cleanliness and less waste than by the use of the spoon or ladle.
The same principle may be also adapted to pans for making soup, 1
or for any purpose where fatty matter, oil, or scum is thrown up.
I would remark that skimming pans or bowls of this description
may be made of tin, earthenware, china, or of any suitable material.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Howard Busby Fox in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 28th November 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HOWARD
BUSBY Fox, of Oxton, in the County of Chester, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirticth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-fourth
year of Her reign, did for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Howard Busby Fox, Her special licence that
I, the said Howard Busby Fox, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Howard Busby Fox, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the

page_text: Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED MILK
SKIMMER WHICH MAY BE USED FOR SEVERAL VARIOUS OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES,”
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Howard Busby
Fox, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in
the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Howard Busby Fox, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
This my Invention for an improved milk skimmer, which may be used
for several various other useful purposes, consists in so forming the pan,
bowl, or basin, which is generally used to contain milk, that the milk
can be poured away into another vessel and the cream or surface left
in the pan, bowl, or basin, the milk being thus perfectly skimmed.
To effect this object a pan, bowl, or basin is thus made:-Down the
side and parallel with it and just behind the ordinary spout there is
formed a diaphragm which extends from the top of the bowl to within
a small distance from the bottom, and thus forms a passage parallel
with the side of the bowl, pan, or basin. From the spout to about the
centre of the pan, bowl, or basin there is attached a fixed cover, and
at one side of the open part of the pan or bowl there is formed a second
spout. In some instances, and particularly when the skimmer is manu-
factured of earthenware, I prefer to form the pan, bowl, or basin without
the diaphragm, but having a small orifice at the bottom of the side of
the vessel itself and a spout moulded thereon. Pans, bowls, or basins
thus formed are applicable for skimming milk, soup, or for any purpose
where fatty matters, oil, or scum are thrown up, also the same arrange-
ment may be applied to jugs used for cocoa, beer, and for any purpose
where it is preferred to pour out the bottom of the contents first.
Skimmers according to this Invention may be manufactured of any
suitable material, such as tin or other metal, china or other earthenware,
glass or wood, and may be of any size to suit the purposes for which
they are required.

page_text: In order that this Invention may be more clearly understood I have
hereunto annexed a Sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof, marked with
letters and figures of reference corresponding with those in the following
explanation. Like letters and figures being used to denote similar
parts.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of an improved skimmer constructed
according to my Invention, shown as manufactured of tin; Figure 2 is
a plan of the same; Figure 3 is a side elevation of a modification of a
skimmer constructed according to my Invention, showing the shape I
prefer to manufacture them when composed of earthenware, glass, wood,
or moulded metal;. Figure 4 is a plan of the same; Figure 5 is a side
elevation of my Invention as applied to jugs.
It will be seen that the skimmer consists of a pan or bowl A. Down
the side B and parallel with it is attached a diaphragm C which extends
to within a small distance from the bottom D, and forms a passage
parallel with the sides B, and opening into the pan or bowl A at the
bottom. From the ordinary spout E of the pan or bowl A to about the
centre of the pan or bowl, I attach a fixed cover F and at one side of
the open part of the pan or bowl I form a second spout G. In the
modification shown at Figures 3, 4, and 5 it will be seen that the
diaphragm C is dispensed with, and in lieu thereof there is an orifice H
in the bowl, basin, or jug and the spout E is moulded on, the semi-
cover F being similar to that shown at Figures 1 and 2.
The action of this my improved skimmer is as follows:-The milk
or other liquid to be skimmed or surfaced being placed in the pan or
bowl A, in due time the cream or other fatty matter or scum rises to the
surface. The milk or other liquid is then poured away through the
passage formed by the diaphragm C, the cream or surface is thus left
in the pan or bowl A, and can be poured away through the second
spout G. It will thus be seen that the milk, soup, or whatever liquid
may be operated upon, is thus skimmed by one action instead of the
troublesome plan of surfacing it with a spoon, also the skimming of milk
by this arrangement is effected with greater cleanliness and less waste
than by the use of the spoon or ladle.
The jug shown at Figure 5 is particularly applicable for removing the
oily surface from cocoa and such like liquids, also for removing the froth

page_text: from beer, ale, or porter, also for ice water and for various other similar
purposes.
Having thus described the nature and object of my Invention and the
means of carrying it out, I would have it understood that I do not limit
myself to the exact size or shape as shown in the Drawings, as the same
may be varied without departing from my Invention, nor do I claim
any special use, such as skimming milk or soup, but what I claim as new
and secured to me by Letters Patent as aforesaid is, the construction
of an improved skimmer or surfacer formed of a half covered pan, bowl,
basin, or jug, and having a diaphragm forming a passage in front of the
spout, or an orifice in the side at the bottom of the vessel and a moulded
or attached spout, substantially in the manner and for the purpose as
herein-before described, set forth, and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Howard Busby Fox, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of November, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
one.
Witness,
20
FREDERICK J. CHEESBROUGH,
of 15, Water Street,
Liverpool.
HOWARD BUSBY (L.s.) FOX.