IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MATCH BOXES FOR HOLDING AND IGNITING MATCHES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Henry Thompson, of 47, Oakley Road, Essex Road,
Islington, in the County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MATCH BOXES FOR HOLDING AND IGNITING
MATCHES"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Henry Thompson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th August 1881.
ROBERT HENRY THOMPSON, of 47, Oakley Road, Essex Road, Islington, in the
County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MATCH BOXES
FOR HOLDING AND IGNITING MATCHES."
This Invention relates to improvements in the arrangement and construction of
match boxes for holding and igniting matches as they are projected therefrom.
For this purpose, according to my improvements, a match box or case is arranged
with a false bottom or division, so as to leave a space between it and the bottom
of the box or case. A groove is also formed on one side of the box, into which
each match is moved in succession ready to be forced or pushed forward by a
traverser to project the match from one end of the box or case.
In order to accomplish this the traverser in its backwards movement acts upon
a lever (mounted in the space below the false bottom or division), which actuates
a finger or fingers which rise up through slots in the division, and carry one of
the matches into the delivering groove at the side of the box, the traverser in its
backward movement having raised a vertical plate to permit the match to pass
into its groove, the plate falling again into its place as the traverser moves forward
to force out the match.
The fingers are moved back by an india rubber or other spring into a position
ready for carrying another match into the groove when acted upon by the
traverser.
The traverser moves to and fro in a slot formed in the side of the box, through
which a projection passes to be acted upon by the thumb or finger of the user, and
when it is pushed forward the end of the match coated with composition, which
[Price Bd27

page_text: ignites by friction, comes in contact with the igniter, which advantageously
consists of a block or surface mounted in a recess near the end of the box, and
pressed against the match by an india rubber or other spring, or the roughened
end of a metal spring or other suitable contrivance may be employed for this
purpose.
When ignited the match can be held whilst in use, the end being finally forced
completely out of the groove by the traverser, which is then moved or pulled back
by a spring, and in doing so a projection upon it raises the vertical division plate,
and its back end acts on the lever previously described to cause the fingers or
feeder to move or carry a fresh match into the delivering groove or passage ready
to be pushed outwards by the traverser.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by.
the said Robert Henry Thompson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
15th February 1882.
ROBERT HENRY THOMPSON, of 47, Oakley Road, Essex Road, Islington, in the
County of Middlesex, "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MATCH BOXES
FOR HOLDING AND IGNITING MATCHES."
This Invention relates to improvements in the arrangement and construction of
match boxes for holding and igniting matches as they are projected therefrom.
For this purpose, according to my improvements, a match box or case a is
arranged and constructed (as represented in the Drawings hereto annexed, which
show several views of a box and the parts of which it is composed separately, the
nature of which is written thereon) with a false or raised bottom or division b, so
as to leave a space between it and the bottom of the box or case. This false
bottom 6 is so shaped as to form a groove with one side of the box or case a.
This false bottom 6 is fitted with a sliding shield c for opening and closing the
groove for the reception of each match in succession, ready to be forced or pushed
forward by a traverser d to project the match d' from one end of the case or box.
In order to accomplish this, the traverser d in its backward movement acts upon
a lever or trigger e mounted in the space below the false bottom or division b; the
trigger e acts on the lever e¹, the end of which passes up through a slot c¹ to
connect it with and actuate the sliding shield c so as to uncover the groove to
receive a fresh match, and by moving the traverser d back it opens the groove and
another match falls in.
When the traverser d is pushed forward an india rubber spring e³ (or any other
suitable mechanical action or mechanism) causes the sliding shield c to close the
groove and prevent another match getting into the groove until the traverser d is
forced back again and the operation is again repeated.
The outlet end of the box or case a is fitted with an igniter f which is made
with a rough face or piece of perforated spring steel f, and as one end is fixed to
the box or case with the rough face pressing against the side of the box, the
composition end of the match d¹ is forced against and between the igniter f and
the side of the box a which causes it to ignite.
The traverser d when pushed up with the thumb or finger forces the match out
at the end of the box. A stud is fitted in the end of the box opposite the igniter f,
and when the match is burnt the stud is pressed against the igniter fand thus
allows the remains of the match to fall out.
The inner end of the traverser & projects into the groove on the side of the box
the thickness of a match inside the box and outside sufficient for the thumb or
finger to push it either ways, and it is fitted in a slot in the side of the box and
is pushed backward or forward at will; a¹, a¹, are filling blocks or blank spaces.
The box can be arranged without the lever gear or sliding shield c, as shown by
separate views, Figure 3.
Having thus described the nature of my improvements and the manner of
performing or carrying the same into practice, I would remark that I do not claim
any of the mechanical or other parts separately which are well known and in
common use, nor do I limit myself to the exact details herein described so long
as the novel features or character of my Invention is retained, but what I
claim is,
First. The improved arrangement and construction of match boxes in which
each match is delivered in succession into a groove combined with a self acting
sliding shield and false bottom b to isolate each match as it is being projected

page_text: from the box by the traverser d and ignited by the igniter f, the parts being
arranged to act substantially in the manner and for the purpose hereinbefore
described and represented in the Drawings hereto annexed.
Second. I claim the improved general arrangement, combination, and construction
of match boxes for holding and igniting matches, substantially as and for the
purposes herein before described and represented in the Drawings hereto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Henry Thompson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
MTTAURGA