IMPROVE- MENTS IN CASES OR HOLDERS FOR HOLDING AND FACILITATING THE SLICING OR CUTTING OF PRESSED OR COOKED MEATS, STILTON CHEESE, AND OTHER PROVISIONS
Year: 1872

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Blizard Williamson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 20th December 1872.
I, WILLIAM BLIZARD WILLIAMSON, of the City of Worcester, Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CASES OR HOLDERS FOR HOLDING AND FACILITATING THE SLICING OR
CUTTING OF PRESSED OR COOKED MEATS, STILTON CHEESE, AND OTHER PROVISIONS,"
to be as follows :—
My Invention consists of the improvements herein-after described in
the said cases or holders by which improvements the meat or provision
contained therein is protected when it is not required to be sliced or cut,
and the upper side or surface exposed by the removal of the cover when
it is wished to slice or cut the meat or provision, the said meat or
provision being raised from time to time by the mechanical arrangements
herein-after described for the purpose of maintaining the surface of the
meat or provision at a level convenient for slicing or cutting portions
therefrom.
T _ 21 halo of the
or holder of a cylindrical or other ficure

page_text: The bottom of the said cylindrical or other case or holder consists of a
circular plate or disk on which the meat or provision rests. This plate
or disk is moveable, and is carried by a support which may consist of two
cross bars. This support is carried by a bracket which passes through a
vertical slot in one side of the case or holder and terminates in a screw
box, through which screw box a vertical quick threaded screw in a
tubular cover outside the case or holder works, the top of this screw is
furnished with a thumb plate by which a rotary motion can be given to
it. By turning the said screw by its thumb plate from time to time the
meat or provision can be raised in the case or holder so as always to 1
bring its upper part to the open top or mouth of the said case or holder.
The case or holder may be provided with a foot by which it may be fixed
upon an ordinary dinner or other plate.
Instead of fixing the raising screw vertically as described it may be
fixed horizontally. In this arrangement the screw is situated at the 1
bottom of the case or holder and crossing it in the direction of a
diameter. One half of the screw has a right handed and the other half
a left handed thread. A screw box works on each of the two parts of
the double screw. One end of the screw is provided with a thumb plate
for turning it and by the rotation of the said screw the two screw boxes ?
may be made to approach to or recede from one another. The moveable
bottom of the case or holder is supported on two arms which cross cach
other and turn upon a joint at their middle, the two lower ends of the
jointed cross arms being actuated by the screw boxes described. By
turning the screw in one direction the jointed cross arms open and raise a
the moveable bottom, and by turning the screw in the opposite direction
they close down upon one another and depress or carry down the said
moveable bottom.
The last described arrangement may be modified in the following
manner :-Instead of the right and left handed screw described a rod
without screw threads may be employed, the said rod occupying the
position and being provided with a thumb plate and having the rotatory
motion of the screw described. Over the said rod a strong coiled spring
is supported, the movcable bottom of the case or holder resting on the
top of the spring. A flexible band is connected at one end to the top of
the said spring, and at its other end to the middle of the said rod. By
rotating the said rod the flexible band may be coiled on and uncoiled
therefrom, and the spring either compressed, and the moveable bottom

page_text: of the case or holder lowered or allowed to expand itself and raise the
said moveable bottom of the case or holder.
For the purpose of fixing the rotating rod in the required position one
end of it is capable of a slight rising and falling motion by which
arrangement a square part on the said rod may either be fixed in a slot,
and the rod thereby prevented rotating, or may be depressed into an
expansion in the slot in which position it is able to rotate. The other
end of the rod may be provided with a ratchet wheel in which a pawl or
click on the fixed part of the case or holder engages.
By turning the thumb plate at the end of the rotating screw or rod in
cases or holders made according to my Invention, the moveable bottom
of the case or holder and the meat or provision supported in it may be
raised and lowered in the said case or holder at pleasure.