IMPROVEMENTS IN BOXES."
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henri Ciotti, of No. 65, Rue Blanche, in the City of
Paris, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOXES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henri Ciotti at the Office of
the Commissoiners of Patents on the 15th December 1879.
"
HENRI CIOTTI, of No. 65, Rue Blanche, in the City of Paris, Gentleman.
IMPROVEMENTS IN BOXES."
This Invention has for its object improvements in boxes.
My Invention has for its object the construction of boxes by the combination of
two concentric tubes working the one within the other, longitudinally or
circularly. They are unconnected, but do not have to be separated for opening
the box.
These boxes may be cylindrical, or oval, or of a flat form, but the circular movement
is only possible in the cylindrical boxes. The interior tube is generally shorter
than the exterior, and is intended to hold the articles contained in the box; its edges
are slit to form springs, which bear upon the interior of the outer tube and prevent
it from sliding spontaneously.
For boxes sliding longitudinally I fix in the bottom of the interior tube a thin
stem having the same length as the exterior tube, and upon the top of it I place a
disc parallel to the base in which the stem is fixed; this disc serves as a cover to the
exterior tube when it is pushed inwards to close the box. To open the box it is
only required to pull the cover with one hand, whilst the exterior tube is held in
the other, which brings the upper edge of the interior tube level with that of the
exterior tube, and exposes completely the contents of the box. A stop prevents the
parts being slidden too far. In this arrangement the exterior tube has a bottom
and completely envelopes the interior tube.
The stem may at pleasure be placed at the centre or at the side of the interior
tube.
The exterior tube may only have the length necessary to cover the free space between
the top of the interior tube and the cover. In this case the exterior tube is a sleeve
open at both ends. The way of using remains the same. The sleeve is made to
slide one way or the other, so as to cover or uncover the contents of the box.
D

page_text: To operate with one hand only it is necessary to form in the exterior tube a
longitudinal slot, into which a button is inserted and fixed at a suitable point to the
interior tube; this button is moved with the finger whilst the box is held in the
hand; it is pushed along the slot to remove the cover and expose the contents of
the box. It is drawn back to cause the cover to approach and to close the box.
For boxes in which the motion is circular the two tubes are cut away so as to
present at their upper parts only a semi-cylindrical developement with a slight
excess to ensure the exterior tube covering. A small pivot unites the centres of the
two discs, closing the upper ends of the two tubes, so that they may pivot correctly
the one on the other. It results that the space in the interior tube is opened or
closed according as the upper part of the exterior tube is placed behind or in front
of it, and that the simple revolution of the exterior tube opens and closes the box.
The edges of the cut away parts are by preference made sloping, so that the
meeting of the two edges pushes back any of the contents of the box which may
project.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henri Ciotti in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th June
1880.
HENRI CIOTTI, of No. 65, Rue Blanche, in the City of Paris, Gentleman.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BOXES."
This Invention has for its object improvements in boxes.
My Invention has for its object the construction of boxes by the combination of
two concentric tubes working the one within the other, longitudinally or
circularly. They may be unconnected, and do not have to be separated for opening
the box.
These boxes may be cylindrical, or oval, or of a flat form, but the circular movement
is only possible in the cylindrical boxes.
The interior tube is generally shorter than the exterior, and is intended to hold
the articles contained in the box; its edges are slit to form springs, which bear upon
the interior of the outer tube and prevent it from sliding spontaneously.
For boxes sliding longitudinally I fix in the bottom of the interior tube a thin
stem having the same length as the exterior tube, and upon the top of it I place a
disc parallel to the base in which the stem is fixed; this disc serves as a cover to
the exterior tube when it is pushed inwards to close the box. To open the box it
is only required to pull the cover with one hand, whilst the exterior tube is held
in the other, which brings the upper edge of the interior tube level with that of the
exterior tube, and exposes completely the contents of the box. A stop prevents the
parts being slidden too far. In this arrangement the exterior tube has a bottom,
and completely envelopes the interior tube.
The stem may at pleasure be placed at the centre or at the side of the interior
tube.
The exterior tube may only have the length necessary to cover the free spaco
between the top of the interior tube and the cover. In this case the exterior tube
is a sleeve open at both ends. The way of using remains the same. The sleeve
is made to slide one way or the other, so as to cover or uncover the contents of
the box.
To operate with one haud only it is necessary to form in the exterior tube a
longitudinal slot, into which a button is inserted and fixed at a suitable point to the
interior tube; this button is moved with the finger whilst the box is held in the
hand; it is pushed along the slot to remove the cover and expose the contents of
the box. It is drawn back to cause the cover to approach and to close the box.
For boxes in which the motion is circular the two tubes are cut away so as to
present at their upper parts only a semi-cylindrical developement with a slight
excess to ensure the exterior tube covering A small pivot unites the centres of the
two discs, closing the upper ends of the two tubes, so that they may pivot correctly
the one on the other. It results that the space in the interior tube is opened or
closed according as the upper part of the exterior tube is placed behind or in front
of it, and that the simple revolution of the exterior tube opens and closes the box.
The edges of the cut away parts are by preference made sloping, so that the meeting
of the two edges pushes back any of the contents of the box which may
project.
In the Drawings hereunto annexed I have shown examples of boxes constructed
as above described.
Figure 1 shows a cylindrical tube A, closed at its lower end and open at its upper
end. B, Figure, 2 is another cylindrical tube closed at its lower and open at its
upper end; this tube has three slits f formed in it. To the bottom of the tube B 18
fixed a stem t which carries at its upper end a disc or cover C. The tube B, which
I call the carrier, can be filled with matches, as shewn in Figures 3 and 4, or other
articles, and slid in to the tube A. Figure 3 shews the two tubes one in the other;
the box is then closed.

page_text: By taking hold of the disc C and raising it the box is opened, as shown at
Figure 4.
At Figure 5 the inner tube or carrier is quite of another form to that shewn at
Figure 2. In Figure 5 the rod t in place of being central is placed at one side,
and bont at right angles at its upper and lower ends. To the upper and of the
rod t is fixed the cover C, and to its lower end is fixed the bottom n; a split ring e
is fixed to the rod t, its lower odge comes near to the bottom n; P is a button fixed
to the rod t
The carrier B is introduced into the tubo A, Figure 6, in which is a slot through
which passes the stem of the button P. By sliding the button P along the slot the
carrier B can be raised or lowered, and the box so opened or closed. Boxes formed
in this way can be opened or closed with one hand.
At Figure 7 is shown a box formed on the same principles, but of a rectangular
or oval form.
At Figure 8 is shown another box, in which A is a cylindrical tube closed at its
lower end and open at its upper end, it is provided with a double bottom. To the
bottom is fixed a central stem t which carries at its upper end a disc C. A ring B
slides length wise of the tube A on its exterior. When the ring B is in the position
shown at Figure 8 the box is opened. When the ring B is in the position shown
at Figure 9 the box is closed. The requisite friction between the tubes A and B
is obtained by making a longitudinal slit along the tube A.
In place of giving to one of the two tubes a to and fro rectilinear movement for
effecting the opening and closing of the box, one of the tubes may, as before stated,
have a to and fro circular movement given to it.
Figures 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 illustrate this way of forming the box. A,
Figure 10, is a cylindrical tube closed at its lower and upper ends; a portion of the
upper part of the tube is cut away, as shown at V, V', so forming an opening into
the tube, through this opening matches or other articles are introduced into the
tube B. Figure 11 is a half cylinder, closed at its upper end, and open at its lower
end where it is terminated by a ring E. The tube A is inserted into the tubo B,
as shown at Figure 12; in this position the box is closed, but if a half turn is given
to the tube B the box is open, as shown at Figure 13. When turning the tube B
on the tube A, it might happen that the matches or other articles might get nipped;
to avoid this one of the sides of the opening in the tube A should be cut sloping, in
the manner shown by the Drawing.
Figures 14 and 15 show, in plan, the upper ends of the two tubes A and B.
To better ensure that the boxes above described shall remain closed, screw threads
formed on the boxes and covers may be used, or sloping slots and buttons, or small
screw pins fixed to the ends of the inner case or basket and nuts on the end of the
cylinders, or the ends might be connected by small rivets or eyelets.
The boxes may be formed of wood, metal, card board, or other suitable material,
and may be used for various purposes; they may be formed as the handles of
walking sticks, as cigar or cigarette cases, as handles for candlesticks, as torch stems,
as salt or pepper holders, as the heads of ink stands, or card cases, and for a great
variety of other uses.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I would have it understood that I claim, the manufacture of boxes,
substantially as berein before described and illustrated in the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henri Ciotti, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourth day of June, in the year of our Lord, One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.