Oh, Letters Patent! D. T. Abercrombie's camping utensil

 Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

David T. Abercrombie, the founder of Abercrombie Co. in 1892 was also a multiple-time patented inventor. A surveyor by trade, his experience of the great outdoors undoubtedly informed both his entrepreneurship in high-end gear for wilderness adventurers, and his inventions in the domain of camping.

For example, the Letters Patent* No. 730731, titled Camping utensil, is one such US utility patent, awarded June 9th, 1903, to David T. Abercrombie, hailing from Newark, NJ, and assigned to the New York firm Abercrombie & Fitch. The patent recites an improvement to camping utensils, specifically to frying pans. Still in use to date, this improvement comprised a removable handle, so that the improved frying pan might be easily packed, stored, and readily assembled for use.

The patent Figure 1, included above, depicts a side elevation view of the invention. The invention comprises a frying pan 1, preferably made of aluminum. The side 2 of the frying pan comprises a socket, made of two pieces of metal 3, riveted into the side 2. The socket is tapered at the top and flared at the bottom inlet, with slightly raised edges 4 to enable cooperation with the foot 6 of the handle. 

The handle comprises a grip 12 and a shank 5 with a foot 6 turned upwards, intended to cooperate with the frying pan socket, slipping in from the bottom up. To prevent the handle foot 6 from disengaging from the frying pan socket, a retaining member, comprising a rim-engaging member 9 and a shank portion 8, is clamped together with the handle shank 5, using a slide 11, moved laterally towards the socket. The slide 11 also moves back laterally, towards the grip 12, to allow the handle foot 6 to be disengaged from the frying pan socket.  

A vintage Abercrombie & Fitch camping advertisement is also included above. On the left, the advertisement depicts a Nesting cook set comprising, in particular, a frying pan with a detached handle.  

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Note
*  Patents were called Letters Patent as early as the 15th century in Europe, and at the inception of the United States, at the end of the 18th century, according to the provisions of the first US Patent Act (1790). The term Letters Patent was used well into the 19th century, although usage began to shift following the provisions of the third US Patent Act (1836), which established the United States Patent Office. 

    The term Letters Patent is derived from Latin, litterae "patens”, a form of the verb “patere”, which means “to stand open”. In other words, a term that refers to “open letters” in the sense of public or “by decree”, and in contrast to private “sealed letters” (in Latin litterae clausae).

Reference

Abercrombie & Fitch (website)

https://www.abercrombie.com/