Patent GB-190001900-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to Match Boxes.
Inventor: BOULT ALFRED JULIUS
Filed: 1900-01-30
Granted: 1901-01-12
Abstract: 1900. Boult, A. J., [Mitscheunig, C.]. Jan. 30. Match boxes.-A match box adapted for delivering matches singly, ignited or not, comprises a drawer, Fig. 2, a distributing-arm, Fig. 4, and a frame or box, Fig. 8. The drawer, formed from a tinned sheet-iron or other blank, consists mainly of a bottom part a, having projections 1, for pushing the matches towards the delivery end of the box. The front end of the bottom a is bent upwards and backwards to form a tongue b, which is formed with a bent portion e. One of the side walls c of the drawer is provided with a flange 4 which, as the drawer is pulled out, slides against the lower side of the box and serves as a guide. The distributing-arm f, Fig. 4, is pivoted at 6, Fig. 2, to one side c of the drawer, and an aperture is formed in a part of the opposite side of the drawer, to receive an edge of the arm, when it is swung across. Two bent portions 12 on the drawer slide along the sides 28, 29 of the frame or box, Fig. 28. The arm f serves to push the matches outwards, and is formed with a projection 16 strengthened by bends 17 ; this projection strikes a plate 33 on the frame or box, Fig. 8, when the drawer is pulled out, and causes the arm to swing over towards the delivery side of the drawer. A chamber, for receiving the untipped end of a match and forcing the match through a delivery opening 10 in the side of the drawer, is formed upon the front end of the arm by means of flanges 18, 19, 20. A small automatically-actuated cover is fitted to the chamber, and serves to hold the match in position. As the match is carried forward by the arm, an automatically-actuated finger 26 prevents it from leaving the chamber laterally., The bottom of the frame or box, Fig. 8, is formed with a series of slots 30, which receive the projections 1 of the drawer, and has an inclined or curved portion 32. A vertical plate 33 serves as a stop against which the projection 16 strikes as the drawer is pulled out, thus causing the arm f to swing towards the delivery side of the box. A movable plate h, Fig. 28, is pivoted to the sides 28, 29, and is held in position by means of an elastic cord 39 which lies within notches 36, 38, respectively formed in the frame and plate. A striking- plate 40 on the plate h is opposed to a striking- plate 37 on the frame. When the drawer is in position, as shown in Fig. 28, the tongue band bent portion e respectively pass through slots 46, 47 in the plate h. The entire box is placed within a casing, of cardboard, wood, celluloid, nickel, silver, or any other suitable material, provided with a lid to allow the box to be filled with matches. When the drawer is pulled out, the lowest layer of matches is drawn forwards by the projections 1, and one of them falls into the space between the plate 33 and the movable plate h, and this match is separated from the rest and falls upon the bottom of the drawer when the latter is pushed in again. When the drawer is again pulled out, the match is held by the front end of the arm f and forced between the striking-plates, and immediately afterwards through the delivery opening 10. Usually a match is delivered every time the drawer is opened, since a match is separated ready for delivery, and a previously-separated match is delivered every time the drawer is opened. A match may be delivered, without ignition, by oscillating the plate h, so as to move the striking-plate 40 away from the plate 37, by means of a cord, button, or projection on the plate h. In a modified form of distributing-arm, the parts 16, 17, Fig. 4, are dispensed with, and one side of the arm is inclined and engages with a slit formed in the plate 33. The arm and frame may be constructed so as to allow the match, on delivery, to be ignited by rubbing against a striking-plate which slides on the outer part of the frame. The box may be modified so as to deliver the tail end of a match first; in this case the arm f may be replaced by a slide which receives the head of the match and moves along slots formed in the bottom of the drawer.