US2024995A - Article of tableware - Google Patents

Description

R. G. COWAN 2,024,995

ARTICLE 01 TABLEWARE Filed Aug. 6; 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS,

Dec. 17, 1935.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA RE Dec. 17, 1935. R c w 2,024,995

ARTI LE 0F TABL Patented Dec. 17, 1935 UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTICLE OF TABLEWARE poration of New York Application August 6, 1934, Serial No. 738,662

Claims.

This invention relates to china, earthen, or porcelain, tableware and has as an object, an article of tableware formed with modeled ornamentation and so constructed that the surface of the ornamentation thereon will not become disfigured, or damaged, in the regular handling of the ware, particularly when the dishes are placed in a stack and removed therefrom.

The invention has as a further object, an article of tableware provided with modeled ornamentation so formed, as an integral part of the dish, that the outlines of the ornamentation are sharp and distinct, which outline is not in any way affected by the shrinking of the ware during manufacture.

The invention has as a further object, an article of tableware provided with modeled ornamentation, with the ornamentation so modeled that the ware can be produced at substantially 20 the same cost as tableware without modeled ornamentation.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

25 In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a plate embodying the features of the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged, sectional view taken on lines 2- -2, Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an enlarged, sectional view taken on lines 33, Figure 1.

35 Figure 4 is a fragmentary, sectional view of the dish, similar to that shown in Figure 2, and a contiguous portion of the forming mold.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, sectional view of the dish, similar to that shown in Figure 3, and a contiguous portion of the forming mold.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan view of a bowl shaped dish embodying the features of the invention.

Figure '7 is an enlarged, sectional view taken on line 'l-'|, Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an enlarged, sectional view taken on line 8--8, Figure 6. v

The invention consists generally of an article of china, or porcelain, tableware, a plate or dish having a relatively flat bottom surface surrounded by an ascending wall portion, in combination with modeling of said wall portion consisting of depressed portions, which depressed portions terminate toward the center of the dish at a shoulder or edge, and extend outwardly from said terminus in a slope merging with the surface of the rim.

The plate, shown in Figures 1 to 5, consists of a substantially flat central discoidal portion I0 which is formed with an annular bead or foot II on the lower side thereof at the outer edge of the discoidal portion 48. The structure of the plate also includes a comparatively narrow, substantially flat rim l3 which, as here shown, is inclined slightly upwardly relative to 10 the discoidal portion Ill. The rim I3 is arranged concentric with the bottom of the plate, and is connected therewith by an ascending curved portion It. The upwardly curved concave shallow wall I4, in conjunction with the bottom portion 15 I0, forms the food well of the plate which is I surrounded by the rim l3. The rim I3 is provided, at its periphery, with a bead or under rolled edge l5. This bead facilitates the handling of the plate, and also prevents chipping of the edge of the plate in the course of handling thereof. It is to be understood that the bottom portion [0, rim l3, bowl portion l4, and the rolled edge I5, constitute an integral structure.

The plate thus far described is of maximum food capacity with a minimum over-all dimension for a plate provided with a rim. Occasionally, plates are formed without a rim surrounding the bowl portion, or food well, of the plate. Obviously, these plates have a greater food capacity for over-all dimension than do plates provided with outer marginal rims. However, such plates are not used generally for commercial service, as the plate without the rim is comparatively difficult to handle. However, the plate 5 shown in Figures 1 to 5 is of maximum food capacity for a plate having a rim and is particularly adapted for hotel, Pullman car, and restaurant use, as it occupies a minimum amount of space for a given capacity, which is an extremely desirable feature where meals, in such places, are served on small tables, and table space is a desideratum.

The inner side of the rim, as distinguished from the bottom side, is provided with modeling. In some articles of tableware, as fiat ware, the inner side faces upward. In other articles of tableware, as hollow ware, the inner side may be vertical, or inclined, or flared but slightly out of the vertical. My invention may be carried out equally satisfactorily in both types of ware. The type shown in Figures 6 to 8 might be classified as hollow ware. The dish consists of a fiat bottom surface Ill adjoined outwardly by an upwardly curved wall l4 provided at its outer edge with a bead l5. The dish is not provided with a rim portion complemental to the rim iii of the plate shown in Figures 1 to 5. In this instance, the modeling is formed in the upper portion of the wall 14 adjacent the bead l5.

' Usually, the decorative modeling extends, or continues, entirely around the rim. In the illustrated exemplification, of the invention, Figures 1 to 5, the inner or upper side of the rim is formed in inner and outer concentric annular zones or bands designated A --B. The inner zone A is substantially'plain or flat. The outer zone B is modeled or formed with depressions which decrease in depth toward the outeredge of the rim,

thus providing abrupt shoulders at the inner deeper ends of the depressions and at the outer 'edge of the inner zone A, said shoulders facing toward the outer edge of the rim. The top surfaces of the raised portions in the outer zone left by the depressions} are, at the most, as high as the plane of the inner zone A, or in other words, are not higher than the said plane. The modeling is for the purpose of providing an advantageous form of intaglio ornamentation, and because of its mechanical or physical arrangement, i. e., the relation of the inner zone A to the outer zone B, the higher portions of the modeling are protected against excessive wear in the washing, stacking, unstacking, and other more or less rough handling.

The modeling, or ornamentation, of the inner or upper wall or rim of the article thus consists generally, of depressed portions which terminate toward the center of the article at a more or less abrupt shoulder or edge facing toward the circumferential edge of the article, and. which extend outwardly from said shoulder in a slope merging into the outer or top surface of the rim.

In Figures 1 to 5, the rim i3 is provided with a suitable ornamentation or design which, as here shown, consists of a series of triangular motifs l6 arranged about the rim of the plate with the bases of the triangles being toward the axis of the dish, and with smaller motifs I1 interposed between the triangles 16. It is to be understood that any one of many suitable designs may be tation painted upon the ware.

cost in manufacture.

used.

The manner in which the design is formed constitutes an important feature of this invention. The design is modeled, or carved, in the rim l3 and forms an integral part thereof. Modeled ornamentation is frequently preferred to ornamen- However, heretofore modeled ornamentation was accompanied by decided disadvantages. The same disadvan tage, in varying extent, is present in hollow ware, as bowls, especially when the modeling is on the inner side of the rim. One of the chief disadvantages in modeled ornamentation has been the wearing off of the raised or high points of the ornamentation. This results from sliding the dishes over one another, or one into and out of the other, in stacking and unstacking, and in the general handling of the ware.

Another disadvantage has been the fact that modeled ornamentation is accompanied by higher The restaurant and hotel trade have desired flat ware with modeled ornamentation but, due to the fact thatsuch ware, as previously made, soon became disfigured, and the cost of such Wars was so great, it has never been used extensively for hotel and restaurant use. By my invention, I am able to produce fiat were with modeled ornamentation at a manufacturing cost not higher, and in fact somewhat lower than the cost of the standard fiat ware having painted ornamentation. Also, by the unique manner in whichthe ornamentation is modeled, it does not become worn, or damaged, and the ware will give the same, and often greater, length of service as the ordinary ware with the painted ornamentation.

Due to manufacturing difficulties such fiat ware, as has been provided with modeled ornamenta-. tic-n, has been formed generally with the orna- 10 mentation in relief. The volume of business on such ware has been extremely limited, due to the fact that it is practical only for domestic use where the ware is carefully handled and stored.

As is well known to those skilled in, the art, porcelain and china ware is formed, or made, on molds. These molds are made of plaster of Paris, and the upper surface of the mold is formed complemental to the upper surface of the dish. Or, in other words, the dish is originally formed in upside down position on the mold. The lower side of the dish is formed by placing a mass of clay on the mold and revolving the mold and simultaneously, bringing a forming tool in contact with the lower side of the dish while it revolves. The dish so formed, from wet plastic clay on the plaster of Paris mold, is set aside until the dish substantially dries out. The total shrinkage of the dish is about one-seventh of its diameter, and a substantial part of the shrinkage takes place while the plate is drying on the mold. The dish shrinks radially inward.

It is obvious that in the case of ornamentation in relief, the corresponding configuration would be depressed in the mold and during drying and shrinking of the plate, the raised ornamentation on the rim of the plate would necessarily have to be dragged out of and over the surface of the mold. It so happens that the clay material, from which tableware is made, contains a strong abrasive material which quickly wears away the plaster of Paris mold, and renders the ornamental depression therein obscure and disfigured.

The same wearing effect on the mold is also produced when the ornamentation on the plate is formed in intaglio, in which case the mold will be formed with projections complemental to the depressions of the intaglio ornamentation in the plate, with the result that the radial shrinkage of the plate causes the surface of the plate todrag'50 over the projections on the mold and quicly destroy them.

By the structure of my ware, many more dishes may be obtained from the one mold before the mold must be discarded, By my invention, I produce dishes with modeling, or carving, on the surface of the rim which is such that the raised portions of the model surface are in the general plane of the inner or upper surface of the rim, and are outlined by depressed portions of the modeled surface, which depressed portions have their inward terminus at a shoulder, or edge, contiguous to the raised portions, and toward'the axis of the dish. The depressed portions extend from their inner terminus, or shoulder, toward the outer edge of the rim and merge with the It will be understood that the modeled surfaces may lie anywhere from nearly cylindrical surfaces, through various angles of conoidal surfaces, to approximately flat surfaces.

Referring to the drawings, Figures 1 to 5, the triangles l6 and the motives I? are modeiedin the rim is of the plate with the surfaces of the triangles and motives arranged in substantially the same plane as the surface of the rim l3, see

Figure 3. The depressed portions [8, outlying the triangles I and motives ll, are so formed and arranged that the deeper portions thereof extend toward the axis of the dish, see Figures 2 and 3.

The mold I9, for the particular plate shown, is formed as indicated in Figures 4 and 5.

In Figure 5, the raised portion 20 of the mold forms the depression l8 between the sides of the triangles l6 and is formed with a sharply inclined edge or shoulder 2| which forms the inward terminus 22 of the depression. The outward side 23 of the projection 25 gradually declines and merges with the surface of the rim l3 at the top of the innermost motive H, as at 24.

The projection 25 on the mold forms the recess 26 arranged centrally of the group of motives H. The projection is formed with a sharply inclined edge or shoulder 21 which forms the inner terminus 28 of the depression. The outer side 29 of the projection 25 gradually declines and merges with the surface of the rim |3 at the top of the outermost motive H, as at 30. It will be observed that the projections 20, 25, are formed in similar manner. That is, the inner sides of the projections extend at a relatively sharp angle, and the outer sides are inclined and gradually merge with the surface of the rim |3, It is to be understood that the mold I9 is also provided with projections which form depressions along the sides of the triangular motive I6 and between the smaller motives ll. These projections are indicated by dotted lines, Figures 2 and 3, and are formed in the same manner as the projections 20, 25. As shown in Figure 4, the mold i9 is also provided with a slight projection 35 formed similar to the projections 20, 25, and acts merely to define the inner edge of the bead |5 on the top side of the plate.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, it will be observed that as the plate dries and shrinks radially inward the inner shoulders or edges of the depressions 22, 28 move away from the sharply inclined walls 2|, 2'! of the mold. Due to the fact that the walls 23, 29 of the mold are formed on a gradual incline, the outer portions of the depressions pass over the projections 20, 24, without seriously abrading the same. Accordingly, the projections 20, 25, are not damaged by the shrinkage of the plate, with the result that the depressions are always formed with a sharp outline, and particularly with a sharp deep inner shoulder or edge.

Referring to Figures 6 to 8 inclusive, the modeling formed in the wall portion |4 consists of a series of scallops 40 with their bases, or chords, arranged toward the bottom surface Ill. The scallops 40 are adjoined on either side by smaller scallops 4|, 42. The surface of the large scallop 40 extends in the same plane as the inner side of the wall portion I4, as indicated in Figure 7. The surfaces of the scallops 4| are slightly depressed, or recessed, adjacent the edge of the large scallop 40, as at 43. Also, the surfaces of the small scallops 42 are recessed adjacent the outer edge of the scallops 4|, as at 44.

In other words, the outer edges of the scallops 4|, 42 are in the same plane as the surfaces of the large scallops 4d. The inner surface of the wall 14 between the groups of scallops is recessed to form a series of concentric step portions 56, 5|, as indicated in Figure 8. These depressions are formed with abrupt shoulders 52, 53, respectively, and which shoulders are arranged toward the bottom surface of the dish. The bottom surface of the depressions 50, 5|, incline gradually outwardly and forwardly, and merge with the surface of the inner wall I4 as at 54, 55.

The recess 50 is flanked, or 'adjoined, on each end by the scallops 42, and the depressions 5| are adjoined at each end by the outer edges of the scallops 40 and 4|.

It will be observed that the same effect is carried out in connection with the modeling on the dish shown in Figures 6 to 8, as in the plate Figures 1 to 5.

The form of modeling herein described also posseses an appreciable advantage in connection with application of coloring, or tint, to the modeled surface. The coloring matter is applied to the modeled surface. The modeled surface is then wiped, removing the coloring matter from the high portions of the modeled surface, and permitting it to remain in the depressed portions.

A particularly pleasing effect is obtained by this simple process, due to the fact that the coloring material is entirely removed from the surface of the rim, or wall of the dish, with the coloring material remaining in the depressions, and with an appreciable deeper color, or shade, adjacent the sharp edge or shoulder, and gradually becoming lighter as the depressed portions merge with the surface of the dish. To obtain this effect on a flat surface would consume an appreciable amount of time by a skilled decorator. It is also of importance that the coloring matter does not become worn, or disfigured, due to the fact that it is on the bottom of the depressions where it is protected from contact when the dishes are stacked, and otherwise handled, particularly in hotel and restaurant use.

What I claim is: 1. An article of china or porcelain tableware, a dish having a relatively flat bottom surface surrounded by a rim portion, in combination with ornamentation of said rim consisting of depressed portions, which depressed portions terminate toward the center of the plate at a shoulder or edge and extend outwardly from said terminus in a. slope merging with the surface of the rim. 45

2. An article of tableware, a dish or bowl having a bottom food surface surrounded by an ascending wall portion, in combination with ornamentation of said wall consisting of depressed portions, which depressed portions terminate toward the bottom surface at a shoulder or edge and extend upwardly from said terminus in a slope merging with the surface of the wall.

3. An article of china or porcelain tableware,

a dish or bowl having a foodwell surrounded by a rim with the surface of the rim inclined upwardly in relation to the bottom of the food well, in combination with modeling or carving of the surface of the rim such that the relatively raised portions of the modeled surface are in the plane of the surface of the rim and are adjoined outwardly by relatively depressed portions of the modeled surface, which depressed portions have their inner terminus at a shoulder or edge contiguous to said raised portions and toward the 6 axis of the dish, the depressed portions extending from their inner terminus toward the outer edge of the rim and merging with the surface of said rim.

4. A molded article of china or earthen flat ware, or tableware, consisting of a dish having a flat bottom, a rim having its upper side formed with inner and outer concentric 'annular zones, the surface of the inner zone being substantially plain and flat, and the outer zone being formed with depressions or modeling below the plane of the surface of the inner zone, the depressions merging with the outer edge of the rim and the inner terminus of the depressed portions forming shoulders at the outer edge of the inner zone and facing the outer edge of the rim, the top surfaces of the modeling being not higher than the plane of the surface of the'inner zone.

5. An article of china, porcelain or earthen tableware, a dish or bowl having a food well surrounded by a rim; in combination with modeling or carving of the surface of the rim consisting of areas relatively raised and depressed, the relatively raised areas being in no case higher than stages to the outermost depressed area which 10 terminates outwardly by merging with the outer edge of said rim.

R. GUY COWAN.

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