Cover for pickles, etc.

Application filed September 4, 1928. Serial No. 303,842.

My invention relates to covers for containers holding relishes and other perishable food products.

The main purpose of my invention is to ₅ protect, to a maximum between servings from their containers, the surfaces of perishable food products sold from bulk.

A further purpose is to provide a follower preferably in the form of a float fill10 ing substantially the entire cross-section of the container and resting upon the surface of the food.

A further purpose is to cover the food by an excess of liquor and to float a protective 15 cover upon the liquor.

A further purpose is to provide convenient means for removing surface water from a container.

A further purpose is to support a float20 able cover for foods covered by liquid in suitable position for drainage within the container.

Further purposes will appear in the specification and in the claims.

I have preferred to illustrate one general form of my invention only showing two shapes and two materials thereof and selecting a form which has proved to be practical, efficient, simple and inexpensive and ³⁰ which at the same time well illustrates the principles of my. invention.

Many articles sold in bulk by grocers and keepers of delicatessen stores are subject to injury through the formation of mould ³⁵ long before the quantity ordinarily exposed for sale has been sold. Pickles form so excellent an example of this within the knowledge of all such store keepers that I will ₄₀ use them as an illustration, intending them to be typical of the entire group of relishes and perishable foods to whose protection my invention is directed.

Figures 1 and 4 are top plan views of 45 variant forms, .

Figure 2 is a section .of Figure 1 upon line 2—2, showing parts in elevation.

Figure 3 is a section of a float differing from that in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a section of Figure 4 taken ^;_mupon line 5—5.

Figures 6 and 7 correspond to Figure 5 but show the float in different positions.

In the best practice with which I am familiar pickles are ordinarily kept in a ₈₈straight sided jar of the general character shown in Figures 1 and 2, are covered by brine and are protected by a top cover such as that shown in outline in Figure 2.

The increasing air space which becomes quite large before the jar. is empty facilitates the growth of mould upon the surface of the pickles exposed or, where they are covered by brine, upon the surface of the brine. Such products as chow-chow usuafly j₈have no covering of liquor. They are also subject to injury by formation of mould.

The formation of the mould gives a general appearance of uncleanliness and causes the food when withdrawn from the jar to 80 appear to be in bad condition. This, injury to the food is not confined to appearance alone, as the same causes which result in the accumulation of mould result also in discoloration and decay of some of the food, 85 with the result' that quite generally parts of such bulk foods are sent back to the wholesale grocer for replacement as unsalable.

I .have discovered that the same type of straight sided jar now in use may be used 90 without or with the same jar-top cover shown in Figure 2 to secure very complete protection of the bulk food products if the immediate surface of the food products be protected by a follower or cover resting upon 95 the surface of the food or upon the surface of the liquor covering of the food.

This protection is very much more complete and effective in the case of foods covered by liquor if the follower be made in the; 100

1,818,924 in the follower cup will drain when the follower is hung upon the side. Though with but little advantage from hanging the follower from the side in the earlier numbered views, the cupping of the top could be used ₇₀to advantage in the forms shown in these views if its special advantages be desired.

In Figures 5—7 I show two additional features.

The use of glass is by no means essential 75 to obtain results from my invention.

Solid covers may be followers merely for quasi solid materials—of the chow-chow order—or may be of wood or cork in order that they may float. Whatever the ma- so terial, if the surface of the follower be injurious to the content or be apt unduly to soak up the content, it is desirable to cover the surface with a suitable paint or enamel to protect against this. 85

- Obviously the protective feature of my invention would be carried out whether the follower rest upon a quasi solid content or float upon a covering liquor. It is also evident that a follower of the float variety .90 would serve the follower function with a quasi solid content and would perform the additional floating function where a liquor covering has been provided.

With whatever^: shape of jar the .inven- .95 tion be used there is an advantage in providing the usual top cover 16 for the jar in addition to the follower, as the inner surface of the jar and the upper surface of the follower will thus be. protected against dust .100 and dirt and against the intrusion of flies.

When a floating follower is used which substantially fills the cross-section of the jar interior and has sufficient side thickness so that the. upper edge is not closely ap- ,105 proached by the liquor, of the content, there is no opportunity for flies to feed from the liquor content and I find the protection from flies to be very complete and effective.

I intend the language “parallel-sided” to .110 refer to the circular form of jar as well as to one of polygonal section and to indicate that the elements cut by vertical planes through the center are substantially parallel. . ‘115

In view of my invention and disclosure variations and modifications to meet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident to others skilled in the art. to obtain part or all. of the benefits of <120 my invention without copying the structure shown, and I, therefore, claim all such in so far as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope of my invention.