IMPROVEMENTS IN DINNER PLATES, DISHES. AND OTHER LIKE ARTICLES. APPLICABLE ALSO IN PART TO OTHER PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Thomas Wilson Slater, of Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN DINNER PLATES,
DISHES. AND OTHER LIKE ARTICLES. APPLICABLE ALSO IN PART TO OTHER
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Thomas Wilson
Slater at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th July 1880.
WILLIAM THOMAS WILSON SLATER, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN DINNER PLATES, DISHES, AND OTHER LIKE ARTICLES,
APPLICABLE ALSO IN PART TO OTHER VESSELS."
At sea great inconvenience arises from the motion of the vessel at dinner. The
plates, unless placed in bars in the table, are apt to slide about, and the condiments
are apt to slide down into the body of the plate among the food proper. To prevent
the former evil india-rubber let into grooves in the bottom of the plate or vessel
has been suggested, but the rubber cannot stand hot grease and the like, attracts
dirt, and becomes useless. Now I get over this evil by making the rim on which
the plate stands broader than usual and roughened like a file or otherwise. This
can be done either before glazing, or the glaze can be ground off with a coarse
grindstone. The rough or file cut bottom catches into the cloth or table and will
hold the article at a much steeper angle than a smooth rim will.
Second. I place a projecting ridge or bead either partly or wholly round the
inside of the rim or edge of the plate. This forms a secure guard to prevent the
mustard, salt, pepper, or the like from sliding down with the roll of the ship into
the body or well of the plate. Below this bead the plate can be cut away somewhat,
so as to enable the plates to pile suitably. This Invention is applicable in whole
or part to all kinds of crockery or metallic vessels for sea use.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Thomas Wilson Slater in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 29th January 1881.
WILLIAM THOMAS WILSON SLATER, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN DINNER PLATES, DISHES, AND OTHER LIKE ARTICLES,
APPLICABLE ALSO IN PART TO OTHER VESSELS."
At sea great inconvenience arises from the motion of the vessel at meal times.
The plates, unless placed in bars in the table, are liable to slide about, and the
condiments are apt to slide down into the body of the plate among the food proper.
To prevent the former evil india-rubber let into grooves in the bottom of the plate
or vessel has been suggested, but the rubber cannot stand hot grease and the like,
it also attracts dirt and becomes useless.
Now I get over this evil by making the rim on which the plate stands broader
than usual and roughened like a file or otherwise. This can be done either before
glazing, or the glaze can be ground off with a coarse grindstone or ribbed wheel.
The rough or tile-cut bottom catches into the cloth or table, and will hold the
article at a much steeper angle than a smooth rim will. Or in place of either of
these methods, rough hard particles can be burnt into the said rim, or other well
known methods of producing a rough surface can be adopted. I do not bind myself
merely to an annular ring, though I consider this the best form to adopt, as other
contours of roughened surface can be adopted.
Second. I place a projecting ridge or bead either partly or wholly round the
inside of the rim or edge of the plate. This forms a secure guard to prevent the
inustard, salt, pepper, or the like from sliding down with the roll of the ship into
the body or well of the plate. Below this bead the plate can be cut away somewhat
so as to enable the plates to pile suitably.
The first part of my Invention is applicable not merely to sea plates only, but to
nearly all kinds of crockery ware or glass or metallic vessels for sea uses.
The cheapest and best form of ridge is that shown in the Drawing, as it can
be made in the ordinary potter's wheel, but it will be obvious that the rim can be
ridged in divers ways, so as to form a hollow partially or wholly round a plate to
contain condiments.
Having now described my Invention, and the best modes known to me of
carrying it into effect, I wish it to be understood that what I believe to be new
and desire to protect under the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1st. The manufacture of crockery ware and other vessels, more especially for sea
use, with their rims or surfaces on which they stand file-cut or roughened so as to
grasp the surface and prevent them from slipping, substantially as described.
2nd. The manufacture of plates for ships' use, with a raised ridge or ridge bead
or beads on the inner side of the rim in such manner as to form a hollow or hollows
between the said ridges or beads and the periphery of the plate for the holding
of condiments, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Thomas Wilson Slater, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.