A NEW OR IMPROVED SPOON
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Frederick Davis Heap of Wilmington Square in
the County of Middlesex, Metal Worker and James Rettie of Hatton Garden
in the same County, Engineer, for an invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED
SPOON"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Frederick Davis Heap
and James Rettie at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
10th March 1882.
THOMAS FREDERICK DAVIS HEAP of Wilmington Square in the county of
Middlesex, Metal Worker and JAMES RETTIE of Hatton Garden in the County of
Middlesex Engineer. "A NEW OR IMPROVED SPOON."
Our invention consists in forming Spoons in such manner that food or medecine
may be administered more easily and effectually than with the ordinary spoon.
According to our invention we form the bowl of the spoon similar in shape to
that of an ordinary sugar scoop, the back of the spoon being capable of being
moved forward by means of a rod to which it is attached the rod moving in a
bearing which is attached to, or forms part of the handle of the spoon.
The action of the spoon is as follows. The food or medicine being taken into
the bowl, the handle of the spoon is held in such a manner that the forefinger may
be readily placed upon the rear end of the rod. The bowl of the spoon is then
placed to the mouth of the infant or invalid and the back of the bowl is caused to
move forward by pressing on the end of the rod with the finger thereby moving
forward the contents of the spoon and causing them to enter the mouth and
allowing of the withdrawal of the empty spoon.
In administering food or medecine with the ordinary spoon it is found necessary
(in order to withdraw the spoon and leave the contents thereof in the mouth to
press the bowl of the spoon against the upper gums or teeth thereby causing pain
or annoyance to the child or invalid. It will be readily seen that such pain or
annoyance may be avoided and greater cleanliness attained by the use of spoons
constructed according to our invention.
A modified form of our invention may be applied in feeding or physicing birds
or other animals,

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent and
of an Order of the Lord Chancellor filed by the said Thomas Frederick Davis
Heap and James Rettie in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st September
1882.
THOMAS FREDERICK DAVIS HEAP of Wilmington Square in the County of
Middlesex Metal Worker, and JAMES RETTIE of Hatton Garden in the same County
Engineer "A NEW OR IMPROVED SPOON"
Our invention relates to a new or improved spoon.
According to our invention we so form spoons that food or medicine may be
administered to infants or invalids more easily and effectually than with the
ordinary spoon.
And in order that our invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into effect we will proceed to describe the same with the aid of the accompanying
drawings reference being had to the letters and figures marked thereon and in
which Fig. 1, is an edge elevation partly in section of our improved spoon and
Fig. 2 a plan thereof.
The bowl A of the spoon may be of any suitable form but we prefer it somewhat
as shewn namely similar to that of an ordinary sugar scoop.
Within this scoop is
a sliding plate or piston B capable of being slid forward nearly or quite the whole
length of the bowl. The under side of this sliding plate B fits the curve of the
bowl and the top is flush with the sides thereof. The position of the plate when
slid forward is indicated by broken lines in both figures. This plate B is attached
at its rear side to a spindle C passing through the back of the bowl and along the
underside of the shank and handle D to a bearing E beneath the handle through
which it passes and terminates with a button G. Between bearing E and the back
of the bowl spindle C is provided with a shoulder at c and between this shoulder
and the back of the bowl and reacting against both is a spiral spring H surrounding
spindle C. The action of the spoon is as follows:-The handle of the spoon is
taken hold of by the thumb and second finger of the hand with the forefinger on
the button G. The food or medicine is then taken into the bowl in the ordinary
way and applied to the parted lips. The forefinger is then pressed on button Ġ
causing it and spindle C and sliding plate B to move forward the latter traversing
the bowl of the spoon and forcing the contents thereof into the mouth. During
this forward movement spring H has been compressed between its bearings but on
the removal of the pressure of the forefinger from button G it expands and so
withdraws sliding plate C again to the rear of the bowl.
A convenient way to form shoulder c on spindle C is to have that portion
between the shoulder c and stud G of split tube to slide tightly onto the inner part
of the spindle. By this means also this split portion may easily be removed and
replaced enabling the parts of the spoon to be readily separated for cleansing and 4
refixed. The bearing beneath handle D may be formed by simply turning the
handle under as in short the spoon may take any convenient or desired form or
pattern suitable to the adaption of our improvements. It may be made of any
desired material.
The advantges of the spoon are manifest. It frequently happens that in
administering food or medicine with the ordinary spoon it is found necessary to
press the bowl against the upper teeth or gum to get the contents into the mouth.
This is rendered wholly unnecessary by the use of our improved spoon and comfort
and cleanliness are obtained.
A modification of the form of spoon shewn may be used for feeding or physicing
animals or birds.

page_text: We claim as our invention to be secured by the hereinbefore in part recited
Letters Patent the new or improved spoon substantially as and for the purpose or
purposes herein before set forth and described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
In witness whereof I the said James Rettie on behalf of myself and the
said Thomas Frederick Davis Heap have hereunto set my hand and seal
this twenty first day of September One thousand eight hundred and
eighty two.
JAMES RETTIE. (L.S.)