IMPROVEMENTS IN CANISTERS
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Aug., 1886.
Complete Left, 9th May, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 10th June, 1887.
1 JAMES CONYERS MORRELL of 112 The Grove, Ealing, in the County of Middlesex
Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
CANISTERS to be as follows:-
The object of my improvements is to facilitate the taking out of the contents of the
Canister without removing the lid.
I carry out my improvements by constructing or making in the Canister by preferance
at the bottom (though it may be made on the lid or any part of the body) a small
chamber or compartment of a form suitable for receiving a sliding tube or scoop.
Within this chamber or compartment I place a sliding tube square, circular or angular
in form; or instead of a tube a sliding scoop in section square, rounded or angular,
or flange-sided piece of metal or other material being guided in this mainly by the
form of that portion of the Canister in which the Chamber or compartment is made.
I attach to, or form upon this sliding tube or scoop a little knob or projection.
Underneath or at one side of the chamber I make an opening suitable for discharging
the contents, of a size and form so that when the tube or the scoop is in its normal
position it covers the opening, and in this state my Canister is closed.
To remove the contents I, by the aid of the little knob or projection, slide the tube
or scoop into the body of the Canister by which it receives a portion of the contents
thereof. In the case of the tube the portion so received is a limited quantity inasmuch
as the front end of the tube is closed by contact with that portion of the Canister to
which it is advanced. The contents are then discharged by tipping the Canister so as
to, slope the base of the tube or scoop in the required direction. In the case of the
tube the contents of the tube only are discharged, but in the case of the scoop any
further contents of the Canister beyond those actually received in the scoop may also
be then discharged.
The chamber or compartment when circular in form has of course a tube or scoop
of circular form, in this case instead of the tube or scoop being slid lengthways it may
be moved round in a circular form for receiving and discharging the contents of the
Canister the requisite openings being made for this purpose.

page_text: In some cases I carry the chamber or compartment across the Canister or otherwise
close it at both ends, and make an aperture at one of its sides or top, such aperture
being opposite, or nearly so, to the opening made in the outer case for discharging the
contents, so that when the tube placed within the chamber or compartment is pushed
to one side the contents of the Canister are discharged direct, through its two
openings, these facing one another or thereabouts, any portion which the tube may
have received being also discharged. The return of the tube to its normal position
closes the two apertures simultaneously.
In the case of Canisters of a suitable size I dispense with the Chamber or compart-
ment and instead thereof I make indentations in the sides of Tin Canisters to act as
guides for my tube or scoop or flange shaped piece, the little knob or projection on
the latter directing the extent to which it can be pushed by catching against the side
or end of the aperture for discharging the contents; the sides of my tube or flanges
of my scoop or flange shaped piece preserving its proper position when being pushed
to one side for opening or when being returned for closing the outlet aperture. In
the case of Canisters of metal or other material in which I cannot make the side
guides by indentation I form them by some other suitable means. The indented
guide is also applicable to round Canisters the sliding piece having a rotary motion.
Dated this Seventh day of August 1886.

page_text: I JAMES CONYERS MORRELL of 112 The Grove Ealing in the County of Middlesex
Civil Engineer 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:-
The object of my Improvements is to facilitate the taking out of the contents of the
canister without removing the lid.
My Improvements are especially applicable to Mustard Canisters, Canisters for
containing spices, food condiments, foods, biscuits, and all articles of a granular or
powdered form.
I carry out my Improvements by making an aperture in the side of the Canister,
or in the end of the Canister, or in the lid of the Canister, such aperture is formed
either when the Canister is made, or when it is partially made, or is cut out of the
metal or material intended to form the Canister. When the aperture is made in one
of the sides of a square or oblong shaped Canister, constructed of tin, or flexible
metal, I make indentations opposite to one another in the sides contiguous to that in
which the aperture is made, and at a little distance therefrom, such indentations
running parallel or nearly so to the edges, angles, or corners of the Canister near to
which they are made, and to one another.
The object of these indentations is to form, and they do form, within the Canister
projections or beadings which on the outer side of the Canister appear as vertical
grooves or indents therein.
When the aperture is made in the end, that is, at the bottom of the Canister, these
indentations are made across the body of the Canister and appear on the outer side of
the Canister as horizontal grooves or indents therein. When the aperture is made in
the lid, the indentations so made also appear on the outer side thereof as horizontal
grooves or indents therein.
When the aperture is made in the side of a circular Canister, the indentations appear
on the outer side thereof as vertical grooves or indents therein though sometimes how-
ever I make the indentations horizontally in the circular Canister, at a little distance
from the end. The indentations may be made in the metal intended to form the
Canister, but I prefer to make them when the body of the Canister is formed.
The projections or beadings, formed within the Canister by my indentations are
made for the purpose of acting, and they do act, as bearers and guides for supporting
and conducting a sliding lid or cover to the aperture made in the Canister, and for
keeping the surface of the sliding lid in sufficiently close contact with the face along
which it moves. Such sliding lid or cover is turned up or flanged at the sides or ends,
the outer edges of the flanges or turned up sides resting against and travelling on the
projections or beadings within the Canister, and by virtue of the depth or extent of
such flanges or turned up sides the surface of the lid or cover is kept in close contact
with the face of the side or end in which the aperture is made, which latter is well

page_text: overlapped by the lid when closed the surface of the lid or cover being larger in area
than the aperture. Upon the sliding lid or cover I make a projection or an indent, or
form thereon a little knob for the purpose of facilitating the sliding the lid to and fro
when it is desired to uncover the aperture for removing the contents of the Canister
or for closing the aperture thereafter. The little knob or projection being made near
one of the ends of the sliding lid or cover serves also to regulate the extent to which
the sliding lid can be moved by coming into contact with one side or end of the
aperture, though this may be done by a stop made in the body of the Canister itself.
Should the sliding lid or cover be made of any material which cannot be similarly
flanged or turned up at the sides, then it is shaped so as also to be held in position by
and run smoothly on the projections or beadings within the Canister, with the object
as before named.
In the case of Canisters made of material that is not flexible, I make the projecting
beadings within by some other suitable means but so that they support and guide my
sliding lid or cover.
When I make the indentations or projecting beading horizontally within the circular
Canister the sliding lid or cover has a rotary motion, the flat surface thereof covering
the aperture if made in the end of the Canister, or the turned up side of the lid
covering the aperture if the latter is made in the side of the Canister between the
indentations and the end. When I make the indentations vertically in the side of
the circular Canister, the sliding lid or cover is made of a form corresponding with
the curve of the Canister, thus it will be somewhat scoopshaped, the outer edges
travelling on and being conducted by the projections or beadings within the surface
of the lid being kept in close contact with the inner face of the Canister as before
named. It will be understood that when the required pressure for sliding the lid
or cover to and fro is given upon either the flexible flange sided lid, or upon the
flexible curved lid, that from the slight spring there is in the lid, the tendency is
to expand the same and to cause it to retain its position on the projections or
beadings within the more firmly if possible, whilst the friction of its surface on the
inner face is thereby slightly reduced rendering the movement free.
It will also be understood that whilst the projections forming the beadings within
serve to guide and to keep the sliding lid or cover in its exact position as regards the
side or end in which the aperture is made, that the flange of the lid or turned up sides
serve in conjunction with the contact secured between the two faces to aid in preserving
the accuracy of the reciprocating movement of the lid on opening or closing. Some-
times, but in very rare cases, I put the flange sided cover outside, in such case turning
in the outer edges of the flange so as to fit into and slide along the groove, made along
the outside by my indentations. The flexible flanged or turned up sided lid can be
sprung into its place.
In some Canisters I dispense with the ordinary lid and put in the contents through
my slide covered aperture, and in some others I fasten down the ordinary lid after the
contents have been put in.
Having described the nature of my Invention, I illustrate by the aid of drawings
attached hereto some of the various forms in which I apply it.
Fig. 1 is a view of the vertical side of a square or oblong shaped Canister shewing
aperture a made therein, c being the sliding lid or cover with a projection d for moving
the same by the finger, the dotted lines C. 1. shewing the position taken by the sliding
lid within when open for removing the contents. Fig. 2. shews the end of a Canister,
of the shape named prepared to receive the sliding lid, or cover, a being the aperture,
bb, being the indentations forming the projections or beadings within.
Fig. 3 shews the sliding lid or cover c-e. e. being the turned up sides, d the
projection for moving it with the finger.
Fig. 4 is a section on line A B Fig. 1 and shews the sliding lid or cover c in its
place, with its outer edges resting against or on the projections b. b. with its flat
surface in close contact with the inner face of the side of the Canister in which the
aperture a is made and covering the latter.
Fig. 5 is a vertical section on line C D Fig. 1 with the sliding lid c covering the

page_text: aperture a and in dotted lines C. 1. the position it takes when open for removing
the contents.
с
Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 illustrate the application to the vertical side of an octagonal
shaped Canister a being the aperture 6. b. the indentations forming the projections
within c the sliding lid or cover shewn as open in Fig. 6 and Fig. 10, the dotted
lines 1 on Fig. 6 shewing the position of the sliding lid within c Fig. 10 also
shewing the sliding lid within, Fig. 8 being the form of the sliding lid or cover, e. e. being
the flanged or turned up sides; d being an indentation in the lid for moving the same
Fig. 6 and Fig. 10 being a stop made in the body of the Canister for regulating the
extent of the movement of the lid or opening, Fig. 9 shewing the sliding lid in its
position resting indented projections b. b. covering a Fig. 7.
Figures 11, 12, 13 and 14 shew the application to the vertical side of a canister
with two of its vertical sides circular in form, a being the aperture, b. b. the indenta-
tions forming the projections or beadings within. Fig. 13 being the curved or scoop
shaped sliding cover with the little knob or projection d for moving it with the finger.
Fig. 14 shews the lid, its position resting on or against the indented projections b. b.
and covering aperture a Fig. 12; the dotted lines C. 1. Fig. 11, shewing the position
of the lid when open for removing the contents. The application as shewn by
Figures 11, 12, 13, and 14, also illustrate the application vertically to the side of a
circular canister.
Fig. 15. shews the application to the end of a square or oblong shaped Canister,
a being the aperture, the dotted lines C. 1. shewing the position of the sliding lid
when open.
Fig. 16 is a section on A B Fig. 15 shewing the opening a and the indentations
forming the projections or beadings b. b. within, Fig. 17, being the sliding lid or
cover c, with the flanged or turned up sides ee. and the projection d for sliding the
lid with the finger. Fig. 18 is also a section on line A B Fig. 15, and shews the
sliding lid or cover in its place with the outer edges resting on, or against the indented
projections b. b. within.
Fig. 19 is a section on line C D, Fig. 15 and shews the lid in its position when
covering and closing aperture a dotted lines C1. shewing the position of the lid when
the Canister is open for removing the contents.
Fig. 20 shews the aperture a and the indentations b. b. made in the lid of the Canister,
the sliding lid or cover e resting on the projections b. b. within, with its flat surface
covering aperture a, and in close contact with the inner side of the lid. The outer
surface of the lid will appear as shown by Fig. 15.
Fig. 21 shews the indentations bb. made horizontally in the end nearest the ordinary
lid gg. with the sliding lid c resting on the projections or beadings b. b. within, and
covering aperture a made in the ordinary lid the lower edges of the flanges of the
latter being nipped or turned into the indentations b. b. Sliding lid c may be of
unflexible material and shaped as shewn by dotted lines.
Figures 22, 23, 24, and 25, shew the application to a circular Canister, my
projection b. within being produced by a horizontal indentation parallel with the end
of the Canister, a being the aperture is opened or closed by the rotary motion of c,
the same being moved by the knob a, my projection or beading within, keeping c in
its proper position, the flanged or turned up side of c covering aperture a when the
Canister is closed, Fig. 25 is an outside view of this with aperture a closed by lid c.
Figures 26 and 27 shew the application to the ordinary lid end of a circular canister,
the aperture a, being covered by a sliding lid c which has a rotary motion, the
periphery of the circle guiding its line of rotation, and the projection within being
inade horizontally keeping the sliding lid in position, the aperture a being made in the
ordinary lid which is put on after c has been placed in its position, and the edges of
the flanges are then nipped or turned into the outer grooves formed by the indenta-
tion ; the little knob d serves for moving c to open and close aperture; this
application can also be made at the solid end of the Canister as above with a slight
modification.

page_text: Fig. 28 shews another application in the lid of a circular canister, the rotary lid or
cover having flanged sides.
Fig. 29 shews the projections or beadings b. b. made solid, the material in such case
of which the canister is made not being flexible.
Fig. 30. shews the flanged or turned up sided lid g placed outside, the outer edges
being turned into my indentations b. b. to keep the sliding lid in position.
Fig. 31, shews the bevelling of the ends of the sliding cover, when the same is made
of unflexible material.
Figures 32, 32a, 33, 33a, shew some of my modified forms of flanged and turned up
sides of sliding lids or covers and how the same may be applied.
I do not confine myself to the precise sections of indentations shewn, nor do I
necessarily continue the same the full length of the sides in which they are made.
Instead of being continuous they may be made in a number of short lengths; and,
as regards the circular indentation, I need not carry this fully round the circle, though
I find it most convenient to do so.
Having now particularly describid and ascertained the nature of my said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is:
1. The combination of a sliding lid or cover having flanged or turned up sides with
an aperture made in a canister for the extracting or admitting the contents thereof
with projections or beadings within the Canister for supporting, conducting, and
keeping in position the said sliding lid substantially as and for the purposes describid
and shewn on drawings.
2. The method or methods of opening and closing a sliding lid in combination with
an aperture in the side or end of a canister for opening and closing the same and
regulating the extent of its movement substantially as and for the purposes shewn
and described.
3. The covering of an aperture made in a canister by a sliding lid having flanged
or turned up sides and supporting guiding conducting and keeping in position the
said lid by projections or beadings within substantially as and for the purposes described
and shewn on drawings.
4. The projections or beadings within a canister for receiving carrying keeping in
position and guiding a slide lid in combination with an aperture in the said Canister
substantially as and for the purpose describid and shewn.
5. The sliding lid or cover with its sides flanged at a right angle or at any angle
and to any greater or less extent for the purpose of covering an aperture made in a
Canister and in combination therewith substantially as and for the purpose describid
and shewn.
6. The sliding lid or cover with its sides turned up to any suitable form and to any
greater or less extent for the purpose of covering an aperture made in a canister
and in combination therewith substantially as and for the purpose shewn and
described.
7. A sliding lid or cover with its sides or ends flanged or turned up for the purpose
of covering an aperture in a canister and with its flat surface of a larger area than the
said aperture for overlapping the same on all sides when closed substantially as
herein before described and shewn on drawings.
8. The sliding lid of a curved or scoop shaped form for covering an aperture in a
canister which has its two narrow sides curved on the same for a circular canister of
circular form and in combination therewith substantially as and for the purpose shewn
and describid.
9. A sliding lid in combination with an aperture in a canister with the sides of such
lid so flanged or turned up that its outer edges take such a position upon projections
or beadings within as to secure accuracy and facility of movement when such lid is
moved for the opening or closing of the said aperture and by virtue of which flanged
or turned up sides the face of the sliding lid is kept in sufficiently close contact with
the inner face or end of the canister in which the said aperture is made the face of

page_text: such sliding lid being larger in area than the aperture and substantially as hereinbefore
described and shewn.
10. The indentations vertically in the sides of a canister made of flexible material
forming projections or beadings within for supporting conducting and keeping in
position a sliding lid or cover in combination with an aperture in the side of the
canister for removing the contents thereof, or for admitting the same if there is no
other opening substantially as shewn and described.
11. The indentations horizontally in the sides of the body or in the flanges of the
ordinary lid of a canister forming projections or beadings within for supporting con-
ducting and keeping in position a sliding lid or cover in combination with an aperture
made in the end or lid of the Canister for removing the contents thereof or for
admitting the same when there is no other opening as hereinbefore described and
shown on drawings.
12. The construction of a canister with a sliding lid or cover in combination with
an aperture such sliding lid working wholly within the Canister without any external
projections for carrying such sliding lid within substantially as and for the purposes
shewn and describid.
13. The combination of a sliding lid with an aperture in the vertical side of a
canister for the opening and closing of the said aperture for the purposes named and
substantially as described and more particularly shewn by Figures 1, 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. on the sheet of drawings attached hereto or any modification
of the same.
14. The combination of a sliding lid with an aperture in the end of a square or
oblong shaped canister for the opening or closing of the said aperture for the purposes
named substantially as describid and more particularly shewn by Figures 15. 16. 17.
18. 19. 20. 21. on the sheet of drawings attached hereto or any modification of the
same.
15. The combination of a rotating lid or cover to an aperture in the side or end of
a circular canister for the purposes named and substantially as describid and more
particularly shewn by Figures 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28 on the sheet of drawings
attached hereto or any modification of the same.
16. The formation within a Canister of projections or beadings at a sufficient distance
from its sides or ends and parallel thereto to admit of a sliding lid with its sides
flanged or turned up for the purposes named substantially as described.
17. The retaining and conducting of a sliding lid with flanged or turned up sides
by the indentations or recesses in the outer side of the Canister in combination with
an aperture therein substantially as herein before described and as shewn on drawings
by Fig. 30.
18. The construction of a Canister of flexible metal with an aperture in the side or
end thereof and adapting a sliding lid cover to the aperture for opening or closing the
same without the addition of any piece of material for retaining and conducting the
said sliding lid as described.
19. The construction of a square or oblong shaped tin or flexible metal canister
with an aperture in one of its vertical sides in combination with a sliding lid for
opening or closing the said aperture.
20. The indenting of tin or flexible metal Canisters when the body of the same has
been formed for the purpose of forming projections or beadings within for the
purposes named.
21. The general combination and arrangement of parts constituting my improve-
ments in Canisters substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn on drawings.
Dated thir 7th dow of Mar 1987
J. CONYERS MORRELL.