IMPROVEMENTS IN TUBS OR PACKAGES FOR HOLDING BUTTER
Year: 1875

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Edmund Edwards at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 25th
March 1875.-A communication from Cevedra Blake Sheldon,
of the City, County, and State of New York, United States of
America.
I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the Firm of Edwards and Co., 38, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Engineers and
Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TUBS OR PACKAGES FOR HOLDING BUTTER," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to tubs or packages used for storing and
transporting butter, and it has for its objects improved methods of
constructing such tubs or packages, so that whilst quite as strong, they
are cheaper, lighter, and more compact and durable than wooden tubs as
ordinarily used.
I take a vessel of any suitable metal, preferably tinned plate, circular
in plan, but having a bottom of somewhat less diameter than the open
top, a hoop of metal or other suitable material being arranged surrounding
the bottom of the vessel so as to give it the necessary strength.

page_text: Instead of the bottom being formed at the lower edge of the vessel,
the sides of the latter may be carried down below its level, the space
below the bottom being filled up with wood secured in its place
by nailing through the sides or in any other convenient way. A
strengthening hoop may be put on as first described to give extra à
strength if desired.
In another form, the lower edge of the vessel below the bottom is
turned over outwards round a strengthening bar or wire running round
the outside of the vessel; or sometimes this arrangement is modified by
turning the lower edge of the vessel inwards over the wire which is
placed underneath the bottom of the vessel, and thus affords a greater
support.
Instead of turning the lower edge of the vessel itself over the wire as
described, the lower edge of a hoop which is put round the bottom of
the tub may be turned over, either inwards or outwards, round the wire.
The upper edge of the vessel may be turned over outwards or inwards in
the same way as the lower one.
Another arrangement consists of forming by rolling an annular groove
round the upper surface of the bottom of the vessel, into which groove
the lower edge of the sides of the vessel fits, the bottom outside the
groove being bent over and carried up so as to form a ring or hoop round
the vessel.
Another form of arrangement by which great strength is obtained at
the bottom (and which is especially applicable for what are termed
"return" packages, or those which are forwarded to the dealer and at
once emptied and sent back to the farmer) consists in surrounding the
lower part of the vessel which does not project below the bottom with a
hoop having a central flange projecting inwards, upon which the bottom
of the vessel rests.
By the different arrangements described the necessary amount of
strength is given to the tub bottom, which is also thus kept off the
ground, and the handling of the tub or package is much facilitated by
the projecting strengthening portions which form a chine.
In the different forms of tubs or packages described it is preferred
that the cover should be of wood; and another part of this Invention
consists of methods of fastening such covers to the vessels.
arrangement for this purpose the upper edge of the tub is provided
In one

page_text: with two or more horizontal ears fixed opposite to each other and curved
to the shape of the tub, one end of each being turned down so as to form
a stop. Two or more corresponding clips are fixed to the top of the
cover, and are bent over so as to slide upon the ears described until
checked by the stop, when they can be secured by a wire, nail, or other
fastening, the ears being perforated if desired in order to facilitate the
use of such fastening. The ears upon the tub may be made slightly grooved
to receive corresponding spring clips which are fixed upon the cover;
or two hooked clips may be fixed at opposite points upon the upper
edge of the tub, corresponding notches being formed in the edge of the
cover to allow of the latter being fitted down into its place, and then
turned partially round so as to be held down by the hooked clips.
Another method of fastening which is more particularly applicable to
the "return packages" already described, consists of a bar hinged near
the upper edge of the tub, and having an opening near its upper end,
into which a corresponding projection fixed to the cover fits. A similar
projection at the opposite side of the cover fits into a corresponding hole
in a corresponding bar fixed to the tub (but not hinged). The projection
which passes through the hinged bar may have a transverse hole at its
extremity to receive a split key or other fastening after it has been
passed through the bar.
In order to protect the metal from the rays of the sun, any of the
different modifications of the Invention described may be covered (round
the body) with canvas, paper, board, leather, or other suitable material
fixed in any convenient way.
Metallic packages have to some extent been already used for con-
taining butter, but their want of strength has prevented them from
coming into general use; but by this Invention the cost of tubs or
packages is less than that of the ordinary wooden ones, and they are
more compact and lighter, thus reducing the proportion of dead weight
compared with that of the butter transported, and lessening the cost of
carriage. No foreign taste is imparted to the butter, and as the absorption
of moisture by the package is entirely avoided, the butter round the
sides and ends is preserved in as good a condition as that in the centre
of the package. The danger of the tubs or packages becoming useless
through growing old or dirty or by exposure to heat and moisture is
avoided, as in tubs constructed according to this Invention there are no

page_text: joints or staves to shrink or open in the one case, nor hoops to burst in
the other; the fastening is simple and complete, requiring only ordinary
care in opening or closing as compared with the different complicated
methods heretofore used, and no allowance has to be made for soakage
since (as no wood comes in contact with the butter) no soaking is
necessary before packing, and thus a very difficult and vexatious question
is set at rest.