IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VESSELS FOR PRESERVING FOOD AND LIQUIDS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Louis Henri Gillet, of 2, Rue Sainte Appoline, Paris,
Empire of France, Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF VESSELS FOR PRESERVING FOOD AND LIQUIDS."
Sealed the 23rd March 1866, and dated the 27th September 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION. left by the said Louis Henri Gillet at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 27th
September 1865.
I, LOUIS HENRI GILLRT, of 2, Rue Sainte Appoline, Paris, Empire of France,
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE.
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VESSELS FOR PRESERVING FOOD AND LIQUIDS," to
be as follows:-
My Invention consists in the construction of boxes or vessels for the preser-
vation of food and liquids in the following manner :-I make the boxes or
vessels by preference of tin, and of a cylindrical or other shape, and some-
what enlarged or widened at their ends. The lower part of the box or
vessel is provided with a bottom, the edge of which is turned up and soldered
all round, in order to retain and fix it at a certain distance from the end, and
where a second bottom is soldered, thus a compartment or space is formed
between these two bottoms in the interior of the box, while the bottom of the
said box or vessel has an edge outside capable of containing a certain quantity
of liquid. The upper part of the box or vessel is provided with a cover having
an edge turned downwards all round, in order to fit the widened end of the
vessel. After the box or vessel has been filled with the substance, liquid, or
material to be preserved, the lid is put on and soldered all round in the
ordinary way, and the contents are thus preserved: "Two small apertures are
Dine 71

page_text: formed in the sides of the box between the two bottoms, one of which is
stopped with a small piece of wood, or with sealing wax, or by any other con-
venient means, so that the stopper may be easily removed when desired. By
the other aperture the space between the two bottoms is filled with alcohol,
which done it is closed in the manner described for the former opening. In
this state the box is in readiness to be carried about and kept to make use of
at any moment when the contents may be wanted, which may, for example,
be coffee, broth, soup, punch, or any other convenient substance. When it is
wished to make use of the contents of the box or vessel two holes are pierced
with a knife or other instrument in the upper lid of the box, then with a pin
or any other point the two holes bored between the two bottoms are opened,
whereby the alcohol runs out into the concave edge which surrounds the
exterior of the bottom part of the vessel; on setting fire to the alcohol the
contents of the vessel will soon acquire the proper temperature in order to be
fit for consumption.
It is to be understood that the boxes or vessels made according to my
Invention may be of any desired shape, round, square, or elliptical, for example,
and may be heated by the process or means herein-before described, although
in some cases it may be found convenient to have the reservoir of alcohol and
the warmer detached. Vessels or cases made in the manner before described
may be made to fit luncheon baskets or baskets or cases for conveying provisions
to races, for pic-nic parties, and other purposes. The baskets may also con-
tain plates, knives, glasses, cups, besides food; wine and water are also
advisable. To ensure good water I fill a decanter or other vessel with
water and congeal it, I then place it in a preserving box, the top of which is
formed with an aperture for the passage of the neck of the decanter; I then
compress between the decanter and the interior of the box sawdust or other
isolating powder, and I close the bottom of the box by a friction cover,
which prevents the passage of air and keeps the ice for a considerable time.
By these means a comfortable repast and drinks as fresh and as hot as can
be desired may be prepared in an open country or even in a boat.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
be the said Lavie Honzi Gillot in the Coast Soal Datant Office

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Louis Henri Gillet, Her special licence that I, the said Louis
Henri Gillet, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Louis Henri Gillet, 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 Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VESSELS FOR PRESERVING FOOD AND LIQUIDS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Louis Henri Gillet, my
executors or administrators, by an instrumentin 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 Louis Henri Gillet, 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, reference being had to the Drawing hereto annexed
and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say :-
My Invention consists in certain improvements in the construction of boxes
or vessels, as hereafter described, for containing food and liquids in order to
preserve them for a considerable period and at the same time to enable these
preserved substances to be eaten hot without the necessity of an additional
apparatus for heating the same being employed, that is, the boxes them-
selves contain all that is necessary for the heating or warming to be
accomplished. These boxes are made by preference of tin and of a cylindrical
or other shape.
The accompanying Drawings illustrate how the Invention may be carried
into effect.
Fig. 1 is an elevation; Fig. 2 is a plan; and Fig. 3, a section, supposed to
be taken through the line 1, 2, of Fig. 1.
It will be seen that this box a, made by preference of tin, is cylindrical and
somewhat enlarged or widened at its end. The lower part is provided with a
bottom 6 which is turned up and soldered all round, then a second bottom'cis

page_text: also soldered to the exterior of the cylinder a, preserving a convenient distance
between the two bottoms b and c I would here observe that the bottom c
has a kind of circular rim on the exterior and all'round the said cylinder a
The two apertures i are formed at the base of the cylinder a; they correspond
first with the ends of the box, then with the lower parts of the space reserved
between the bottoms 6 and c. The upper part of the vessel receives the coverd,
having an edge turned downwards, in order to enter the widened end of the
cylinder a.
After the box or vessel has been filled with the substance or
substances to be preserved the lid is put on and soldered all round according
to "Appert's" process, or any other approved process, whereby the contents
are preserved for an indefinite period. Afterwards, one of the apertures i is
stopped either with a piece of wood, or with sealing wax, or in other
approved way, so that the stopper, may be removed easily when desired:
Through the other aperture i the space between the two.bottoms b and c is
filled with alcohol, which done it is closed in the manner described for the
former opening: In this state the box may be carried about and kept or
may be
made use of at any moment when the contents may be wanted, which
of any desired material, whether solid or liquid. When it is required to use
the contents one or two holes are made with a knife or other instrument in the
cover of the box, then with a pin or any other point the two holes i, which
are situated at the height of the rim of the bottom c, are opened, whereby
the alcohol runs out into the said rim, then by setting fire to the alcohol
the contents of the vessel are quickly raised to the desired temperature.
any
The advantages resulting from constructing boxes for preserving food in
the manner herein-before described will be readily understood, and not the
least is being able to make use of the food without an additional vessel or
vessels to cook it in. However, to facilitate the packing and carriage of
boxes or vessels constructed according to my Invention, I also construct them
with a double bottom at the lower part, but not extending beyond the
diameter of the enlarged portion of the cylinder a, and I apply to each box a
metal capsule, made by preference of tin, for replacing the exterior edge of
the bottom c, and consequently retaining the alcohol until the holes i are
pierced to heat the contents of the box a.
I make these tin boxes of various forms and sizes for preserving different
materials which may be heated by the alcohol process before described and
employed for other purposes; but boxes containing little or no liquid, and
even all boxes containing preserves may be heated by a water bath (bain
marie), whereby any risk of burning any portion of the contents is avoided.
Boxes or vessels constructed according to may Invention, may be conveniently

page_text: made to fit luncheon baskets or baskets or cases for conveying provisions to
races, for journeys, for pic-nic parties, for boating excursions, and other pur-
poses. The baskets thus contain a complete collation, to which may be added
plates and a complete service, knives, glasses, cups, napkins, and everything
necessary for a repast. Besides the boxes containing food and liquid wine
and water are also advisable. To ensure good water I fill a decanter or other
vessel with the same and freeze it, and I then place it in the box h, Fig. 4,
open at the top,and which surrounds the neck of the decanter or other vessel.
I then compress sawdust, burnt wood powder, or other isolating material
between the decanter and interior of the box, and close the bottom of the box
by a cap j, which prevents the admission of air and preserves the ice for a
considerable period.
By these means a comfortable repast and drinks as fresh and as hot as can
be desired may be prepared in an open country.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same may be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First, the construction and employment of boxes, cases, or vessels for the
preservation of food and liquids,and in utilising or heating the same by means
of alcohol, substantially in manner herein-before described and illustrated in
the accompanying Drawings.
Second, the employment of boxes or cases for maintaining water and other
liquids, but especially water at a low temperature, constructed and fitted with
sawdust or other isolating material, substantially as herein-before described
and illustrated at Fig. 4 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Louis Henri Gillet, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
(L.S.) LOUIS HENRI GILLET.