US539674A - Fruit-jar clamp - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) I

H. U. D ILWORTH.

FRUIT JAR GLAMP.

No. 539,6 74'.- Patented May 21, 1895.

Fig.3

WITNESSEfS: I I I-IVENTOH M Y .M v

- ATTORNEY.

FFICE- HENRY O. DILWORTH, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

FRUIT-JAR CLAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 539,674, dated May 21, 1895:

Application filed November 5, 1894. Serial No. 527,959. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

fruit jar clamps such as are used in holding caps to the tops of fruit jars.

The object of my invention is to producea simple, cheap and strong device, which may be instantly applied to or removed from a fruit jar and cap, which can be adjusted so as to make a water-tight seal enabling the fruit jar to be held submerged when necessary without permitting water to run into it, which, however, has a yielding fastening device which permits the gas or steam generated in the jar to escape beneath the cap, and which when desired may be quickly adjusted so as to bind the cap rigidlyin place and make a hermetical seal.

To these ends my invention consists of certain features of construction and combinations of parts, which will be hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference. is to be'had to the accompanying drawings, forminga part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved clamp as applied to a fruit-jar, the clamp being shown in a locked position. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, and Fig. 3 is 'a'broken plan view showing the arrangement of the sealing-spring and the cushion for the same.

The clamp is provided with a main clam ping piece or strap B which is of a generally inverted U-shape and is adapted to fit over the top of a fruit jar, the clamping piece having inturned flanges M at its ends, which flanges are adapted to fit beneath the rim L on the jar J, this rim being found on all ordinary fruit jars. It is well to have the inner ends of the flanges shaped to fit snugly against the neck of the jar.

The clamping piece, when placed in position, is adapted to extend transversely across the cap 0, which is of the usual kind, and rests on the ordinary gasket P.

On the under side of the clamping piece is a flat spring G, one end of which is fastened to the clamping piece, and the spring is curved downward and is provided at the center and on the under sidewith a cushion K which comes between the spring and the cap 0, and so prevents the spring from contacting with the cap and splintering or otherwiseinjuring the same.

The clamping pieceB is slotted in the center, as shown at S to provide for the movement of the locking lever A, and at the sides of the slot are lugs H which are preferably formed by turning up the metal comprising the clamping piece B, these lugs having pivoted to them, by a pin F, the cam leverA which is preferably struck up from sheet metal, al-

way, and the cams a of this lever are adapted to bind on the spring G directly above the cushion K. The outer end of the cam lever A is bent down slightly,'as shown at a, so as to fit over the end of the clamping piece B, as shown clearly in Fig. 1.

When the clamp is to be used, the cam lever A is turned over to the position shown by dotted lines at A in Fig. 1, thus releasing the cams from engagement with the spring G and the clamp is slipped on sidewise to the top of the jar, so that the spring G pressing downward on the cap 0 holds the cap in place with sufficient pressure to prevent water from running into the jar and so injuring its contents, thus enabling the jar to be submerged if desired, so that the contents may be cooked or otherwise treated. If however, gas or vapor is generated in the jar, the pressure from within is sufficient to lift the cap 0 slightly against the tension of the spring G, so that the gas or vapor may escape without breaking the jar, and when the contents have cooled and there is no fear of extreme pressure within, the cam lever A is turned over to the pothough it may be formed in any approved spring fastened at one end to the clamping piece and loose at the other and adapted to exert pressure upon the jar cap, and means carried by the clamping piece for engaging the said spring, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. As an improved article of manufacture, a fruit jar clamp, comprising a clamping piece shaped to fit over the top of a fruit jar, a spring secured to the clamping piece, and adapted to exert pressure on the top of the jar cover, and a cam lever carried bythe clamping piece and adapted to engage the said spring, substantially as described.

3. A fruit jar clamp, comprising a clamping above the said cushion, substantially as described.

HENRY O. DILWORTI'I. Witnesses:

J AS. A. B. DILWORTH, FRANK T. DILWORTH.

Images