Improvements relating to Cups and Saucers.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Sept., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 26th June, 1900-Accepted, 28th July. 1900
I, PAUL TRACY, of 18, Compton Street, Goswell Road, in the City of London,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
It frequently happens that a few drops of tea, coffee or other liquid which
persons drink from cups get into the saucer either by dripping down the cup or
by being spilt. And when the cup is next raised a drop or drops adhere to the
bottom of the cup and are liable to fall upon the drinker's dress or upon the
table or floor.
The object of my invention is to provide a device which will retain within the
saucer the drops of liquid which drip down the cup or are spilt, so that they will
not adhere to the bottom of the cup.
This
My invention consists of a device to be placed in the centre of the saucer to
drain, take up or absorb any drops of liquid that may get into the saucer.
device, which must be somewhat larger than the bottom of the cup, may either
be formed in a piece with or permanently affixed to the saucer, or it may be a
loose piece. When forming part of the saucer itself, it may consist of a series
of radial or other channels or recesses moulded in the bottom of the saucer; these
channels or recesses will receive and retain any drops of liquid that may reach
the saucer. When the device is a loose piece, it may be of metal, china, cellu-
loid, papier maché or other suitable substance in the form preferably of a disc
having a scalloped or other ornamental circumference, and with radial or other
slots, openings, holes, grooves or recesses to receive and retain the liquid; or 'it
may be a disc or pad of absorbent or bibulous material, such for instance as
blotting paper.
1000
Improvements relating to Cups and Saucers.
I, PAUL TRACY, of 18, Compton Street, Goswell Road, in the City of, London,
0 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:-
It frequently happens that a few drops of tea, coffee or other liquid which
persons drink from cups get into the saucer either by dripping down the cup or

page_text: by being spilt. And when the cup is next raised a drop or drops adhere to the
bottom of the cup and are liable to fall upon the drinker's dress or upon the
'table or floor.
The object of my invention is to provide a device which will retain within the
saucer the drops of liquid which drip down the cup or are spilt, so that they will
not adhere to the bottom of the cup.
This
My invention consists of a device to be placed in the centre of the saucer to
drain, take up or absorb any drops of liquid that may get into the saucer.
device may either be formed in one piece with or permanently affixed to the
saucer, or it may be a loose piece. When forming part of the saucer itself, it
may consist of a series of radial or other grooves, channels or recesses moulded
in the bottom of the saucer; these grooves, channels or recesses will receive and
retain any drops of liquid that may reach the saucer. When the device is a
loose piece, it may be of metal. china, celluloid, papier maché or other suitable
substance in the form preferably of a disc having a scalloped or other ornamental
circumference, and with radial or other slots, openings, holes, grooves or recesses
to receive and retain the liquids; or it may be a disc or pad of absorbent or bibu-
lous material, such for instance as blotting paper.
Referring to the accompanying illustrative drawings which show some examples
ot my invention,―
Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a central vertical section and a plan of a form
of saucer according to my invention in which the device herein before referred
to is formed in one piece with the saucer.
A is the saucer, of ordinary shape externally; its bottom is moulded inside
with a central part B of preferably somewhat larger diameter than the bottom
of the cup which is to be used with the saucer. The upper surface of the part B
is raised a suitable distance above the level of the bottom of the surrounding
cavity of the saucer. C is a series of grooves or channels moulded in the said
portion B and radiating from its centre D with a gradual fall towards its peri-
phery where the said channels merge into the bottom of the surrounding cavity
of the saucer. Any liquid that may be spilt on the raised part B will flow
through the grooves or channels Cinto the saucer cavity, and the bottom of
the cup (indicated in dash dotted lines in Figure 1) being kept raised above the
level of the spilt liquid in the saucer, will remain dry and therefore will not take
up any liquid that would afterwards be liable to drip on to the dress of the drinker
or upon the table or floor.
Figures 3 and 4 are similar views to Figures 1 and 2 of an arrangement in which
the hereinbefore described device is formed in a piece separate from the saucer.
This piece is shown separately in Figures 5 and 6 in side elevation and in plan
respectively. A¹ is the saucer of the ordinary pattern in which a separate or
loose circular piece B₁ is placed to receive the cup. C are grooves or channels
radiating from the centre D of the separate piece B with a fall towards the
periphery of the separate piece.. The thickness of the separate piece B and the
depth of the channels C at its periphery must be such that when the picce B₁
is placed in position in the saucer the upper surface of the piece B¹ will be raised
above the spilt liquid in the saucer.
Figures 7 and 8 show a loose piece B3 which is formed with perforations C
and which has its top and bottom surfaces alike whereby it is rendered reversible.
Figures 9 and 10 which are similar views to Figures 1 and 2, show a saucer A
formed with a part B2 having a central cavity 12. Grooves or channels C2 are
formed in the annular upper surface of the part B3 which supports the cup
(indicated in dash dotted lines in Figure 9) with a gradual fall from its periphery
so as to drain into the central cavity D2 from which they radiate.
Figures 11 and 12 shew a saucer A3 formed with an annular ledge B³ of a
diameter and width adapted to receive and support a cup (indicated in dash
dotted lines in Figure 1f) with convenience. This ledge B³ is depressed below
the bottom of the surrounding saucer cavity. The surface of the saucer com

page_text: prised within the annular ledge B3 is further depressed below the level of the
latter so as to form a central cavity 13 which receives the drips from the cup
The arrangements shown in Figures 9, 10, and 11, 12 have the advantage that
the drips are hidden from view when the cup is in the saucer.
Having now particularly described 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. A saucer having moulded with it a grooved or perforated part on which
the cup is to rest, the surface of the said part between the grooves or perfora-
tions being raised above the bottom of the surrounding cavity of the saucer, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose described.
2. The use with a saucer, of a separate, or loose or a removable grooved or
perforated or porous piece on which the cup is to rest, substantially as and for
the purpose described.
3. The improved saucer constructed substantially as described and shown in
Figures 1 and 2 and in 9 and 10.
4. The combination of the saucer and the separate piece, constructed, arranged
and operating, substantially as described and shown in Figures 3 to 8.
Dated this 26th day of June 1900.
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.