Year: 1886

page_text: I, WILLIAM AUGUSTUS FREDERICK BLAKENEY, of 14 Fitzwilliam Square, in the
City of Dublin, late Major 3rd Battalion Highland Light Infantry, 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:
This invention relates to improvements in mess tins especially designed for the
use of soldiers and others and it has for its object to provide within small space.
and in an easily portable manner a set of the utensils requisite or necessary for
cooking or preparing food.
On the accompanying drawings figure 1 is a perspective elevation of the
improved tin with the lid removed and with other parts of the apparatus in
position for use. Figure 2, is a plan of the tin also with the lid removed and
shewing the apparatus packed or stowed in position for carrying about. Figure 3,
is a perspective elevation of the lid and figure 4, is a like elevation of a pot or can
hereinafter more particularly referred to.
As shewn by these figures the apparatus constituting the Invention consists of a
casing box or tin A, which when in use for cooking purposes serves as a pot or pan
for boiling vegetables, making stews or the like, the tin being at one end provided
with two handles B, so connected to the body by hinge joints C, as to be capable
of folding along the sides as indicated in dotted lines at figure 1, when the tin is
not in use.
At the other end of the tin there is also connected by hinge joints D,
two skewers or spits E, which may be used for roasting fish, birds or other purposes
in which spits or skewers are usually employed, these spits or skewers when not in
use being, like the handles B, folded along the sides of the tin A.
At the same end as the spits or skewers there is secured either inside or outside
the tin A, a loop F, to receive a right angled supporting bracket G, carrying a
grid H, the bracket passing freely through the back bar of the grid so that the latter
may be capable of sliding upon it. As seen by tigure 2, the back bar of the grid is
shorter in length than the length of the tin A, and the wires or prongs rivetted or
otherwise fixed in the said back bar are shorter in length than the breadth of
the tin.
The can or pot I. fig. 4, which is intended for making tea, coffee or the like or for
use otherwise in which such a vessel may be employed is of such dimensions as to

page_text: conveniently enter the tin A, and it is furnished with a hinged lid and a handle J,
capable of being drawn up through the eyes or guides K, when the can is to be used,
and pushed down until the top of the handle is on a level with the lid when the
can is to be packed or stowed away, or this handle may also be of the ordinary
hinge type.
The lid L, figure 3, for cooking purposes acts as a toaster being at its interior
furnished with spikes or spits a, so hinged as to be capable of being folded flat
ngainst the cover whon not in use. When in use the spikes serve to hold bread,
meat or other food to toast it before the fire and when being so used to maintain
the lid in an upright position it is furnished with a strut or struts M, hinged to it
at one end and capable of being folded flat on the cover.
In packing up the apparatus the handle of the can I, is pushed down and the
can placed within the tin A, the bracket G, is withdrawn from the loop F, and
pushed inwards until its angle comes up to the back bar of the grid which is placed
in the tin A, on top of the can I, the tail of the bracket G, passing down between
the can and the tin A, the handles B, and spits E, are also folded along the sides
of the tin A, the spikes a, are folded against the inside and the strut M, against
the outside of the lid or cover L, which is then placed on top of the tin A.
Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, illustrate a mess tin intended for one person but it is
obvious that the tin may be made of sufficient capacity to sorve for two or more
persons and as indicated at fig. 5 it may have two or more cans I, according to the
number of persons to be served.
- 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 mess tin furnished and arranged substantially as described with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
2. As a mess tin the vessel A, having folding handles B, and spits E, and a
loop F, substantially as and for the purpose described with reference to figure 1, of
the appended drawings.
3. A lid for a mess tin having folding spikes and a folding strut or struts,
substantially as described with reference to figure 3 of the drawings annexed.
Dated this Twenty fourth day of August 1886.