US19182A - Air-tight pepper-box - Google Patents

Description

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UNTEE STATES FATENT FFQE.

EDMUND BROVN, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS AIR-TIGHT PEPPER-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 19,182, dated January 26, 1858.

To all ILr/Lomy '15 may Concern Be it known that I, EDMUND Bnowx, of Lynn, in the county of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Air-Tight Spice and Pepper Box; and i do here y d-eclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the saine, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

Like parts are indicated by the same letters in both figures.

Figure l is a longitudinal section of the box, when not in use; Fig. 2, a view of the same, in use.

rIhe nature of my invention consists, first, in making a spice and pepper box self-closing and air-tight, when not in use, for the purpose of prevent-ing the escape of the aroma; and second, in making the perforations, for the delivery of the spice, in a valve or neck, at the bottom, instead of the top, of the box, to obviate the necessity of turning it upside down, when shaken, and the liability of the covers dropping` oif and the disagreeable consequences resulting fro-m such an occurrence.

To enable others, skilled in the art., to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A is the box for holding the spice, and may be made of tin, or any other suitable material. D isits top, or cover, precisely like those in common use, with the exception of being tight instead of perforated. The lower part of A, constituting the valve or neck, as seen in the figures, is smaller than the upper part, the perforations, a, for the delivery of the spice, being made in the periphery of said neck or valve, and not in the bottom.

B is' a cylinder, or case, of tin or other suitable material, into which the spice-box, A, is fitted so as to play up and down with freedom ,-the bottom of the case, as seen in the figures, being provided with a round hole through which the perforated neer or valve, of A, can be pressed, as seen in Fig. 2.

C C is a coil-spring encircling the Valve, one end resting on the shoulder of A, and the other ou the bottom of B, the object of this spring being to raise the box and hold it, in the position represented in Fig. l, so as to be air-tight.y when not in use.

E is the handle.

F is the check and thumb-piece.

lt is obvious that, wit-hout altering the principle of my invention, the air-tight and perforated spring valve may be applied to boxes of glass or Crockery, as well as metal, and of any desirable shape for standii'ig in a caster, either with the handle E, or without it.

Where glass, orcrockery is used, the box, A, may be dispensed with, the perforated valve being kept in place by means of a spindle, or wire, passing through the cover l), in which case the operator will press with his thumb, or finger, on that instead of the thumb-piece F. It is also obvious that the air-tight valve may be applied to the top of a box as well as the bottom, although I prefer the latter, both for the sake of convenience and looks.

The operation scarcely needs an explanation. The box being supplied with th-e spice or pepper, and the cover being fast, the operator grasps the handle E, in his hand, and presses his thumb on the thumb-piece F, the box cover, or the spindle alluded to above, so as to bring the perforated valve into the position represented in Fig. 2; he then shakes the box, holding it top-end up, and without the possibility of shaking ott the cover, spilling the spice and spoiling his food.

,Vhat l claim as my invention and di, to secure by Letters Patent, is,

Making a spice and pepper box air-tight and self-closing, substantially as described, and for the objects specified.

EDMUND BROVN .ire

YVitnesses F. D. BROWN, N, AMES.

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