Year: 1889

page_text: I JOHN HEATON WAIT, of Portsmouth Sciota County, State of Ohio, United States
of America, retired manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention.
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to improvements in attachments for grates and it consists in
certain novel features hereinafter described and claimed.
Fig. 1 of the drawings is a perspective view of a portion of a grato having my
improved attachment applied thereto."
Fig. 2 is a similar view of my improved device detached from the grate.
Fig. 3 is a side view showing a modified form of the device.
Fig. 4 is a similar view showing another modification.
Referring to the drawings by letter A designates a grate of ordinary construction
having the usual grate bars B.
C designates my improved device consisting of a casting comprising a plate D
composed of a number of bars having grooves E in their upper surfaces and provided
with a handle F projecting from its front end. This construction of the plate provides
a number of openings G so that by reason of said grooves and openings its weight and
cost will be reduced to a minimum.
The central opening G at the front end of the plate is smaller than the others so as
to be engaged by an ordinary stove lifter to be removed from the grate.
On its under side the plate is provided with the integral depending feet or prongs H
which are adapted to pass down on opposite sides of the grate bars and thereby
support the attachment in position as shown in Fig. 1. These prongs or feet are of

page_text: unequal length and are arranged near the front and rear end of the plate, the front
foot being the longer. The greater portion of the plate is thus supported in front of
the grate out of direct contact with the fire and is prevented from tipping by the feet
bearing against opposite sides of the grate bars. By making the rear legs small
enough to pass between two adjacent grate bars, the device may be adjusted to any
desired height.
..
My improved attachment is designed for supporting cooking utensils in front of
and over the fire so that they may be readily handled without inconvenience or
danger to the operator and at the same time the food is speedily and thoroughly
cooked. When arranged as shown in Fig. 1 the cooking utensils will be held in front
of the fire.
The device can be arranged, however to support the cooking vessels over the fire by
allowing the front edge of the plate to rest on the upper grate bar and the feet or
prongs rest on the bottom grate at the rear edge thereof. When the device is arranged
over the fire the openings permit the heat to pass directly to the vessel.
In Fig. 3 I have shown my device as provided with only one foot on each side the
said feet. depending from the rear end of the plate. From the rear side of the said
feet near the upper ends of the same, project the rearward and upwardly curved
hooks having square shoulders J on their lower edges adjacent to the feet. This
form of my device is designed more especially for attachment to the lower grate bars
but can be applied to any of them. It is secured in position by being turned in to a
vertical plane so as to enable the hooks I to pass between the adjacent grate bars and
it is then swung outward and downward causing the said hooks to pass upward in
rear of the upper one of the grate bars and enabling the shoulders J to clear the
lower grate bar and slip into engagement with the rear side of the same the feet
bearing against the front side of the grate bars so that the device will be firmly
locked in its place. The shoulders J in this form bear against the rear sides of
the grate bar, and serve the same purpose as the smaller prongs in the form previously
described.
In Fig. 4 I have shown a further form of my device which is designed especially
for attachment to the first and second grate bars. In this form the plate is provided
on its under side with a depending lug K having the rear curved edges L and
provided with the smaller angular notch M in the rear of said rear curved edge.
From the under side of the plate near the rear edge of the same, depend the feet N
which are given a slight rearward inclination, as shown, and are provided at their
lower ends with the prongs O. the lower edge of the feet between the prongs being
curved as shown and provided with a notch P.
The front edges of the feet are curved upward, rearward and then upward again to
the notches M, so as to clear the grate bars when the device is being placed in
position. This form of the device is placed in position by being first turned to a
vertical position in rear of the upper grate bar, and causing the prongs O to engage
the second grate bar after which the device is turned forward and. downward so as to
bring the lugs K into engagement with the upper grate bar, the notches M and P
engaging the upper rear edges of the respective grate bars so that the device will be
firmly held in place.
To disengage the device from the grate it is first slightly lifted and then turned in a
reverse direction.
It will be observed that in all the forms of my device the supporting legs are
below. the plate so that the device and the vessel supported thereon can be placed
nearer the heat than if the plate were supported from a point above the grate.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is;
1. An attachment for, grátes comprising a flat plate having a series of
grooves in
its upper surfaces and a number of openings G, the front central opening being of

page_text: proper size to be engaged by a lifter and feet or prongs depending from the underside
of the plate at the rear-side of the same, substantially as described.
2. An attachment for grates consisting of a flat plate having on its underside, at its
rear end the lugs K and notches M, and the depending feet N provided with
prongs OO at their lower ends, substantially as described.