A NEW OR IMPROVED FLAGON OR BELL-GLASS FOR PROTECTING AND HASTENING THE RIPENING OF FRUITS AND GRAPES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henri Adrien Bonneville, of the British and Foreign
Patent Offices, 18, Rue de la Chaussée d'Antin, Paris, France, and 5, Piccadilly,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "A NEW OR
IMPROVED FLAGON OR BELL-GLASS FOR PROTECTING AND HASTENING THE
RIPENING OF FRUITS AND GRAPES." A communication from Charles de
St. Prix, of Ploujean, France, Knight of the Legion of Honour.
'
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henri Adrien Bonneville at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th November 1879.
“
HENRI ADRIEN BONNEVILLE, of the British and Foreign Patent Offices, 18, Rue
de la Chaussée d'Antin, Paris, France, and 5, Piccadilly, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. A NEW OR IMPROVED FLAGON OR BELL-GLASS FOR
PROTECTING AND HASTENING THE RIPENING OF FRUITS AND GRAPES." A com-
munication from Charles de St. Prix, of Ploujean, France, Knight of the Legion of
Honour.
The Invention relates to protecting and hastening the ripening of fruits and
grapes, and consists of a flagon or bell-glass which may be made in a single piece
with a moveable bottom, or in two parts without a moveable bottom.
The flagon made in a single piece is in the shape of a decanter or any other
shape according to the nature of the fruits for which it is intended, and is of
proportionate and suitable size. It is provided at the top with an aperture
without a neck through which the knotted fruit is introduced inside, and the said
aperture is provided with an outside flange forming a collar by means of which the
flagon is suspended by a string or other fastening to a branch of the fruit-tree, or
to a nail driven into the wall in the case of an espalier tree. The open bottom of
the flagon is closed by a disk of wood, cork, or other suitable material.
The flagon without a moveable bottom is divided vertically from top to bottom,
and consists of two similar halves, which when brought together and kept one
against the other by bands fixed round the upper collar, and two projections or
grooved studs on each half-bottom form a complete flagon in which the fruit may
be placed when it has attained a size which would not allow of its introduction
into the first flagon above described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henri Adrien Bonneville in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th May 1880.
HENRI ADRIEN BONNEVILLE, of the British and Foreign Patent Offices, 18, Rue
de la Chaussée d'Antin, Paris, France, and 5, Piccadilly, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. "A NEW OR IMPROVED FLAGON OR BELL-GLASS FOR
PROTECTING AND HASTENING THE RIPENING OF FRUITS AND GRAPES." A com-
munication from Charles de St. Prix, of Ploujean, France, Knight of the Legion of
Honour.
The Invention relates to protecting and hastening the ripening of fruits and
grapes, and consists of a flagon or bell-glass which may be made in a single piece
with a moveable bottom, or in two parts without a moveable bottom.
The flagon made in a single piece is in the shape of a decanter or any other
shape according to the nature of the fruits for which it is intended, and is of pro-
portionate and suitable size. It is provided at the top with an aperture without
a neck through which the knotted fruit is introduced inside, and the said aperture
is provided with an outside flange forming a collar, by means of which the flagon
is suspended by a string or other fastening to a branch of the fruit-tree, or to a
nail driven in the wall in the case of an espalier tree. The open bottom of the
flagon is closed by a disk of wood, cork, or other suitable material.
The flagon without a moveable bottom is divided vertically from top to bottom,
and consists of two similar halves, which when brought together and kept one
against the other by bands fixed round the upper collar, and two projections or
grooved studs on each half-bottom form a complete flagon in which the fruit may
be placed when it has attained a size which would not allow of its introduction
into the first flagon above described.
In order to make the said Invention and the manner of carrying it into effect
more thoroughly understood, reference is made to the accompanying Drawings in
which,――
Fig. 1 represents the flagon or bell-glass made in a single piece, provided with
the outside flange at the upper aperture through which the knotted fruit is intro-
duced within the flagon, & by means of which the latter is suspended to the
branch of the fruit-tree, or to the nail driven into the wall.
Fig. 2 represents the moveable bottom or disc made of wood, cork, or any other
suitable material which fits and closes the lower part or bottom of the flagon.
Fig. 3 represents the flagon Fig. 1 provided with the bottom or disc of wood, or
cork or any other suitable material, in which flagon a pear has been introduced,
seen after it has nearly attained its normal size.
Fig. 4 represents flagon Fig. 3 provided with a bottom or disc, and into which
has been introduced a bunch of grapes seen after it has ripened in the flagon.
Fig. 5 represents the flagon composed of two similar halves, which fitted
vertically and attached by bands passing around the upper flange A, and the
projections or grooved studs B constitute the complete flagon in which the fruit
may be placed when it has already attained a certain size.
This latter disposition of the flagon makes it possible to hasten the ripening of
early varieties of fruits & allows of the employment of flagons of this sort for
late fruits, because fruits that have already attained a certain size may be enclosed,
whilst the flagons represented in Fig. 1, 3, & 4 can only be employed for fruits
whose size permits them to pass through the upper opening.
After having described the nature of the afore-mentioned Invention and the
manner of carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that I do not
limit myself to the precise details of the formation of the shapes above-mentioned
which could evidently be varied according to the shape of the fruit, but what I

page_text: claim and desire to secure by these Royal Letters Patent is, a flagon or bell-glass
which may be made in a single piece with a moveable bottom, or in two parts
without a moveable bottom for protecting (and hastening the ripening of fruits
and grapes, as above described and represented in the different Figures of the
5 accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henri Adrien Bonneville, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
H. BONNEVILLE. (L.S.)